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Jimmy Williams
President Joe Biden visited Florida’s hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast on Sunday, surveying the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton and urging Congress to approve additional disaster relief funding. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris spent her second day in North Carolina, addressing recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene and engaging with Black voters as part of her campaign for the presidency.
Biden arrived in Tampa before flying to St. Pete Beach to witness the extensive damage caused by Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm. During the visit, he observed wreckage that included the damaged roof of Tropicana Field and debris-strewn neighborhoods.
The president used the opportunity to call for increased federal funding to support hurricane recovery efforts, stressing the importance of swift congressional action. “We’re here to ensure the people of Florida get the help they need,” Biden said. “We cannot delay this—lives and livelihoods are on the line.” He also announced $612 million in funding for six energy projects designed to improve the resilience of the power grid in areas impacted by recent hurricanes, including $94 million for projects in Florida.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., addressed the issue on CBS’ Face the Nation, estimating that $100 billion may be required but said Congress would address the funding after the November 5 election. “We’ll provide the additional resources,” Johnson stated, while acknowledging that the recovery efforts will take time.
Vice President Harris focused on North Carolina, a state still reeling from Hurricane Helene, where she attended church services and rallied Black voters during a “Souls to the Polls” event in Greenville. Harris emphasized the administration’s ongoing commitment to storm recovery and discussed her economic plans for the state.
“This is about ensuring we support our communities, not just in rebuilding, but in thriving again,” Harris told the crowd, underscoring the importance of early voting. The vice president also took the opportunity to hit back at Republican criticism of the administration’s disaster response, specifically addressing false claims made by Donald Trump about the federal aid being misused.
The hurricanes have added new urgency to the presidential campaign as both parties address storm recovery efforts. Trump has criticized the administration’s response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, falsely claiming that federal funds were diverted to aid undocumented immigrants instead of storm victims. Biden dismissed these claims, saying, “It’s reckless and wrong to spread misinformation when people’s lives are at stake.”
Biden is seeking immediate congressional approval for additional funds to ensure that FEMA and the Small Business Administration have the resources needed to continue disaster relief efforts through the remainder of the hurricane season. “Milton alone has caused an estimated $50 billion in damages, and there’s more work ahead,” Biden said, emphasizing the urgency of action.
As Election Day nears, the recovery from Hurricanes Milton and Helene remains a focal point in the campaign, especially in critical swing states like Florida and North Carolina. Both Biden and Harris continue to frame their leadership as crucial to the nation’s response to natural disasters, with the president stressing bipartisan cooperation and the vice president rallying grassroots support.
