Joe Biden has stated that his administration will provide assistance to states impacted by Hurricane Helene “until the job is done,” following the catastrophic storm that resulted in over 100 fatalities in the southeastern region of the United States.
Following the extensive damage Helene caused across several states, the American president addressed the situation on Monday and noted that 600 people are still missing. Reports indicate fatalities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Virginia.
Authorities continue to face challenges in delivering water and essential supplies to remote regions impacted by flooding, as millions remain without electricity.
Mr. Biden indicated that he has engaged in discussions with the governors of Georgia and North Carolina, and he anticipates visiting regions impacted by the hurricane later this week.
He indicated that he “might need to propose” that Congress reconvene for a special session to approve a supplemental funding package aimed at assisting those impacted.
“We will provide support for the duration necessary,” the president stated.
“The current administration is committed to seeing the task through to completion.”
Mr. Biden addressed the situation shortly after a Category 4 hurricane impacted the Florida coast, exhibiting wind speeds of 140 mph, subsequently affecting multiple states.
The recent storm resulted in unprecedented flooding in North Carolina, marking the most severe event in a century. Officials have committed to delivering additional water and supplies to the impacted regions, with fatalities reported at 30 in Buncombe County.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper forecasted an increase in fatalities within the state as rescue teams and emergency personnel accessed regions cut off by damaged roads, compromised infrastructure, and extensive flooding.
Over 50 search teams have been deployed across the region to locate individuals who are stranded.
A rescue operation successfully extracted 41 individuals from a location north of the remote city of Asheville. A separate initiative concentrated on the preservation of an individual infant.
Mr. Biden has indicated to Mr. Cooper that he anticipates a visit to North Carolina on either Wednesday or Thursday.
Supplies have been airlifted to the region surrounding Asheville, with Buncombe County manager Avril Pinder committing to ensure food and water availability in the city by Monday.
“We acknowledge your concerns,” Ms. Pinder communicated to the reporters. “There is a necessity for sustenance and hydration.”
My team has been diligently submitting all possible requests to the state for assistance, and we have been collaborating with every organisation that has contacted us. What I can assure you is that we are nearing our objective.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for this year’s US election, has returned early from a campaign visit to Las Vegas to participate in briefings regarding the hurricane.
In the interim, Republican candidate Donald Trump travels to Georgia to assess the effects of the storm.
Pennsylvania,During his address in Erie, Pennsylvania on Sunday, Mr. Trump characterised Helene as “a significant hurricane” that had “impacted the area more severely than anticipated.”
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late Thursday, subsequently weakening as it progressed through Georgia. The system then delivered heavy rainfall to the Carolinas and Tennessee, resulting in significant flooding of creeks and rivers, which placed considerable stress on local dams.
Numerous water rescues have occurred, particularly in rural Unicoi County, East Tennessee, where a significant number of patients and staff were airlifted by helicopter from a hospital rooftop on Friday.
As of Sunday night, over two million homeowners and utility customers remained without power. South Carolina experienced the highest number of outages, prompting Governor Henry McMaster to request patience as crews addressed the extensive damage caused by broken power poles.
It is essential for individuals to maintain composure. Assistance is forthcoming; however, it will require a certain duration to materialise,” Mr. McMaster communicated to the media outside the airport in Aiken County.