Biden flies to Florida after hurricanes in bipartisan visit
President Biden flew to Florida on Sunday morning to survey the area impacted by the recent hurricanes and to announce $612 million allotted for energy projects in the area.
Biden participated in an aerial tour of impacted areas near St. Petersburg and Tampa. He flew over Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, which had its roof destroyed last week by Hurricane Milton.
He was joined by Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.
In the motorcade, Biden passed by extensive damage in St. Pete Beach. Mattresses, filing cabinets and couches were sitting outside homes, and some people had written messages with spray paint for the president asking for help.
Biden was met by Florida Republicans Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Sen. Rick Scott. Scott recently called for Congress to reconvene and pass an emergency aid package after Hurricane Helene.
In a lengthy post on the social platform X, Scott shared photos of their visit and again called on the Senate to reconvene to pass disaster funding.
The president later delivered remarks outside a destroyed home.
“Thankfully, the storm impact was not as cataclysmic as we’d predicted,” Biden said.
Still, Biden noted, the storm was destructive for many Floridians.
The Biden administration and FEMA have been put under a microscope in recent weeks as the two hurricanes tore through the Southeast. In his remarks, the president noted that in natural disasters, bipartisanship shines through.
“It’s in moments like this, we come together to take care of each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans,” he said. “We are one United States.”
Biden also announced plans for several energy projects. Two Florida-based companies will receive $94 million to assist with rebuilding power grids in the area.
“This funding will not only restore power but will make the region’s power system stronger and more capable,” Biden said.
He closed his remarks by thanking first responders.
As of Sunday, more than 200,000 Floridians were still without power, according to the FPL outage tracker.
The death toll from Hurricane Milton stands at 23, according to the latest information from Florida law enforcement.
Date: | |
Tag: | Joe Biden |
-
Top stories - NBC News
Biden details aid, assistance for Florida after Hurricane Milton and Helene
President Joe Biden made remarks in St. Pete Beach, Fla., while surveying storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene and Milton. Biden announced over $600 million in recovery for the states affected ...1 hour ago - Joe Biden -
Top stories - ABC News
Biden tours hurricane-ravaged Florida, announces $612M in Florida resiliency projects
President Joe Biden is touring Florida areas ravaged by the back-to-back hurricanes and to announce funding for projects that strengthen the electrical grid.2 hours ago - Florida -
World - The Guardian
Joe Biden set to visit Germany to discuss Ukraine and Middle East
US president likely to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz within next week during rescheduled trip, say sources in Berlin. Joe Biden will visit Germany this week, government sources in Berlin said, after ...4 hours ago - Joe Biden -
Top stories - NBC News
Biden, surveying Milton's aftermath, announces $600M for rebuilding in Florida and other states
President Joe Biden announced while surveying storm-damaged Florida that more than $600 million will flow to states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which ravaged Georgia and North ...2 hours ago - Florida -
Politics - Politico
Senate Democrats are suddenly extremely interested in Texas and Florida
September 25 - Florida -
World - Yahoo News
UK foreign secretary to visit China, signaling broader diplomatic shift
2 hours ago - United Kingdom -
Top stories - NBC News
Harris weighing where to put more distance between her and Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris’ team has been discussing ways to clean up her responses to questions this week about how she would differentiate herself from President Joe Biden, according to four ...Yesterday - Joe Biden -
Politics - Politico
Biden: Congress 'may have to' come back to approve Helene relief
September 30 - Joe Biden
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Cheney doubts Johnson will carry out 'constitutional obligations' to certify election
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said in a Sunday interview that she doubts House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will carry out “his constitutional obligations” to certify the 2024 election. In ...47 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Trump, Harris tied nationally in new NBC poll
With just three weeks left until Election Day, a new national survey has found the White House race is deadlocked, with both former President Trump and Vice President Harris securing 48 percent ...1 hour ago - Kamala Harris -
Politics - The Hill
Johnson: U.S. is in 'most dangerous situation since World War II'
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in an interview Sunday that the U.S. is in “the most dangerous situation since World War II,” citing the economy, global tensions and the southern border. ...1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Harris appeals to Black voters at Sunday service
GREENVILLE, N.C. — Vice President Harris made an appeal to Black voters, participating in a Sunday service to talk about hurricane disinformation and teachings from the Bible about helping others. ...1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Fetterman says Musk 'has an appeal to a demographic' that 'Democrats struggle with'
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) compared tech mogul Elon Musk to Tony Stark, the alias for the fictional Marvel superhero Iron Man, highlighting that he appeals to a demographic that Democrats tend to ...3 hours ago