President Joe Biden has assured residents affected by Hurricane Helene that federal agents will remain in their states until the job is complete. During a press conference at the White House on September 30, Biden stated that he had instructed his team to provide all available resources to these communities for rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. This includes assistance from FEMA, the Federal Communications Commission, the National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Defense. Currently, there are over 3,600 personnel deployed for this mission.
FEMA and the Small Business Administration are present on-site to aid residents whose homes and businesses have been severely damaged or destroyed. Additionally, federal search and rescue teams are working alongside state and local partners to locate any missing individuals. President Biden emphasized that these teams will not rest until everyone is accounted for.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is currently in Asheville, North Carolina and will remain there for an indefinite period of time. President Biden also mentioned that he has spoken with various officials including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, county officials in Florida’s Big Bend region as well as leaders from South Carolina and Tennessee.
While President Biden expressed his commitment to visiting impacted areas as soon as possible, he acknowledged that doing so at this moment could disrupt ongoing response efforts. He emphasized that it would be unwise to divert or delay any necessary response assets during this crisis.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Taylor County Florida on September 26 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane. Its impact included a record-setting storm surge along Florida’s west coast along with heavy rainfall in Georgia leading to flooding and landslides in western North Carolina and Appalachia. At least ten states have suffered damage due to Hurricane Helene with over 100 reported deaths and more than 600 individuals still unaccounted for.
President Biden has approved emergency declarations from several states including Florida, Georgia North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Alabama while also granting additional disaster declaration requests from Florida North Carolina South Carolina which will cover debris removal costs provide direct financial assistance to survivors.
