On Sunday, President Joe Biden is set to visit Florida’s Gulf Coast to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, while urging Congress to approve further emergency disaster funding. Vice President Kamala Harris is simultaneously in North Carolina, where she aims to support communities that have been adversely affected by Hurricane Helene, participating in events at a Black church and holding a campaign rally. Biden’s trip is expected to be a strategic push before the upcoming Nov. 5 election, as he seeks to communicate the urgency of providing additional resources, particularly for small businesses that have suffered due to the hurricanes. He hopes to convey this message directly to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has indicated that funding discussions will be postponed until after the election.
During his Florida visit, Biden plans to announce a significant investment of $612 million to bolster energy projects in the hurricane-impacted areas. This funding, coming from the Department of Energy, will enhance the resilience of the electric grid in the region, with $94 million earmarked specifically for Florida initiatives. Notable projects include funding for Gainesville Regional Utilities and Switched Source, which are collaborating with Florida Power and Light. As Biden works to address immediate needs, Harris continues to engage in relief efforts in North Carolina, focusing on supporting local communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
In the broader context of the race leading up to Election Day, the recent hurricanes have complicated the political landscape. With less than a month remaining, Biden and Harris find themselves responding not only to the damages from natural disasters but also to criticisms from Donald Trump, who has accused the administration of inadequate responses to the hurricanes. Trump’s statements have included wrong assertions about the withholding of federal aid to Republican disaster victims and claims regarding FEMA’s financial limitations. Biden has countered these criticisms, pointing out the problematic propagation of false information.
As Biden advocates for swift congressional action, it is highlighted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) might struggle to meet funding needs as the hurricane season continues until Nov. 30. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has noted that while FEMA can address immediate post-storm requirements, its resources are not equipped for prolonged assistance without additional funding. In contrast, Speaker Johnson has emphasized that current appropriations should suffice for the moment, stating that the funding issue will only be revisited after the elections when lawmakers convene during the lame-duck session.
Compounding these political dynamics are tensions between Vice President Harris and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as they navigate their respective roles in the federal storm response. Previously, their administrations have exchanged accusations of politicizing the situation in the face of the hurricanes. Recently, as Hurricane Helene approached Florida, Harris’s team claimed DeSantis was unresponsive to communication regarding federal assistance, while he countered that he was unaware of such calls and questioned her involvement in disaster management prior to her candidacy.
Biden’s upcoming tour of Florida will include an aerial assessment of the damage along the Gulf Coast, focusing on areas most affected by Hurricane Milton, which recently made landfall as a Category 3 storm. The latest reports indicate that the storm has resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals and left countless residents without electricity. Officials believe that the situation could have escalated further had it not been for extensive evacuation measures prompted by the devastation from Hurricane Helene just two weeks prior. Throughout this challenging period, Biden and Harris aim to manage urgent disaster relief efforts while simultaneously addressing the political ramifications these hurricanes hold for their election campaign.