To Floridians and others hit by Hurricane Helene, President Joe Biden says his administration “will be with you every step of the way.”
The White House released his statement early Saturday afternoon, a little over a day after the category 4 storm made landfall in Florida with winds of up to 140 mph and 15 feet of storm surge.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast,” Biden said in the statement. “As the storm continues to track north, Vice President Harris and I remain focused on life-saving and life-sustaining response and recovery efforts.
“I am being regularly briefed by my team on the ongoing response efforts, and my Administration is in constant contact with state and local officials to ensure communities have the support and resources they need. At my direction, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is traveling throughout the Southeast to assess the damage alongside other state and local officials,” he added.
Criswell appeared with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, state emergency management chief Kevin Guthrie and other officials at a press conference in Taylor County’s Dekle Beach earlier Saturday.
Biden himself, with first lady Jill Biden, joined Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis to survey storm damage after Hurricane Ian, visiting Fort Myers Beach in October 2022.
“The road to recovery will be long, but know that my Administration will be with you every step of the way,” Biden said. “We’re not going to walk away. We’re not going to give up. As we turn toward recovery efforts, we will make certain that no resource is spared to ensure that families, businesses, schools, hospitals, and entire communities can quickly begin their road to rebuilding.
“Jill and I are praying for those who lost loved ones from Hurricane Helene, and for those whose homes, businesses, and communities were impacted by this terrible storm.”
At least 22 deaths have been reported from the storm across the Southeast. More than 4.5 million people in six states, including Tennessee and Virginia, lost power.
Helene arrived about 10 miles west of Perry, Florida, at about 11:10 p.m. ET Thursday. The storm quickly weakened as it moved inland, however, recategorized as a tropical storm with sustained winds at 45 mph later Friday, the National Hurricane Center said.
The massive system’s effects were felt far and wide. Helene’s heavy rain also caused flood in South and North Carolina, for example, with evacuations ordered in advance of the expected collapse of the Lake Lure Dam.
While flood waters eventually overtopped the dam, it remained intact.
USA TODAY contributed. News Director Jim Rosica can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: President Biden promises ‘no resource spared’ for Helene recovery
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