President Biden is currently in the Carolinas to observe the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene and to receive updates on recovery efforts. Vice President Kamala Harris is heading to Georgia to assess the emergency response to the storm’s devastation in that state. The president’s first stop is Greenville, South Carolina, where utility crews and city workers are working to clear roadways and restore power. He will then take an aerial tour of the affected region to understand the extent of the devastation without disrupting recovery efforts.
Before President Biden’s arrival, the White House announced the deployment of 1,000 active-duty U.S. soldiers to assist with delivering essential supplies to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. This adds to the more than 4,800 federal personnel already deployed to aid states in the region. As of Wednesday, there were still 600 people unaccounted for in the Southeast, and at least 175 storm-related deaths have been reported. The president will also visit Raleigh, North Carolina, to receive an operational briefing at an emergency operations center, where officials will provide updates on the situation in the region.
Parts of Western North Carolina, including Asheville, experienced severe damage from the storm, with highways wiped out and many residents lacking basic necessities like running water and food. Eastern Tennessee also saw significant damage from Hurricane Helene. Despite the dire situation, President Biden has expressed a desire not to interfere with first responders or ongoing recovery efforts, which is why he did not visit earlier after the storms and is not visiting more areas on the ground. Additionally, Vice President Harris will visit Augusta, Georgia, to receive updates on the federal government’s response to the crisis, following former President Donald Trump’s visit to Valdosta, Georgia, earlier in the week.
President Biden has mentioned the possibility of Congress needing to reconvene in Washington to approve additional emergency funding for the federal response to the disaster. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also acknowledged the need for supplemental funding to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, although he indicated that this may not happen until after Election Day, as all House members are currently campaigning in their districts. Overall, both the president and vice president are actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with federal agencies to support the affected communities and facilitate recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation.
