Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc in six southern states in the United States, resulting in at least 180 fatalities. On Wednesday, President Biden and Vice President Harris traveled to the hard-hit states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia for inspections.
Upon arriving in Greenville, South Carolina, President Biden received briefings from local officials before boarding a Marine One helicopter to conduct an aerial survey of the area. The devastation was visible from above, with houses flattened and the most severe damage near rivers. Near the French Broad River, the floodwaters had receded, leaving behind a scene of destruction. Rescue workers continue to search for survivors in the mountainous regions of the state.
Prior to a hurricane preparedness briefing in Raleigh, North Carolina, President Biden remarked, “You can clearly see houses washed from one side of the river to the other… Dealing with this storm and all the affected communities will cost billions of dollars.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris was conducting inspections in Augusta, Georgia. During her visit, Harris told local officials, “The hurricane and its aftermath have caused real pain and trauma. We will be here for the long term, and there is much work to be done.”
Before departing from Washington, President Biden instructed up to 1,000 active-duty military personnel to assist with disaster relief and post-storm reconstruction efforts. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated that nearly 6,000 National Guard members have been deployed in the six states impacted by the storm.
Mayorkas further mentioned that over 4,800 federal workers have been deployed, with 8.8 million meals, over 7.4 million gallons of water, and 150 emergency generators provided to aid in post-disaster recovery.
On Wednesday, President Biden also approved requests from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper for federal funding lasting three and six months respectively to aid in debris cleanup and emergency protective measures.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre announced that President Biden will visit Georgia and Florida on Thursday, while Vice President Harris will head to North Carolina in the coming days. The spokesperson highlighted that over $10 million in aid has been directly provided to those affected by the hurricane.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, before ravaging several southeastern states for multiple days.
(This article is based on reporting by Reuters.)