President Biden Visits Hurricane Milton-Damaged Florida
President Joe Biden traveled to Florida to assess relief efforts in areas impacted by Hurricane Milton through an aerial tour, connecting with local officials and business owners while delivering news about additional aid.
En route to a briefing on recovery efforts, the President’s motorcade passed Tropicana Field, where significant damage was evident, including a damaged roof and debris lining the road.
Upon reaching St. Pete Beach, the devastation was stark, with mattresses, filing cabinets, and couches discarded outside homes, many bearing messages like “Mayor, Gov, Mr. Pres, Small Businesses Need Help Too,” and “Help us.”
Biden visited the St. Pete Beach Residential Area on 73rd Avenue, engaging with residents and first responders, distributing challenge coins and shaking hands. Accompanied by Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, the visit showcased a rare moment of bipartisanship amidst the disaster. The area was strewn with debris, highlighting the extent of the destruction.
Speaking for about eight minutes, Biden stood amid the rubble, a destroyed home visible behind him. He expressed relief that the storm’s impact was less severe than initially predicted.
“Thankfully, the storm impact was not as cataclysmic as we'd predicted,” he stated. “But for some individuals, it was cataclysmic… entire neighborhoods were flooded and millions without power.”
Reflecting on personal experiences with disasters as such, Biden shared, “The thing I was most concerned about was not just the home but all those pictures I saved of my daughter’s drawings when she was little.”
The President emphasized the need for unity during such crises: “It's in moments like this, we come together to take care of each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans. We are one United States.”
He also highlighted progress made through bipartisan support.
Biden announced $612 million in funding to assist communities affected by recent hurricanes, with $47 million allocated for Gainesville Regional Utilities and an additional $47 million for Florida Power and Light.
“This funding will not only restore power but will make the region's power system stronger and more capable,” he noted.
In closing, he thanked first responders for their efforts, stating, “This is all a team effort, folks. You made a big difference in saving lives. But there's much more to do. And we're going to do everything we can to get power back in your homes and help you build back stronger.”
After his remarks, Biden handed the stage to other speakers, including Secretary Jennifer Granholm of the Department of Energy and Mayor Adrian Petrila of St. Pete Beach.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned that Governor Ron DeSantis was invited to participate in the President's events but did not respond. Additionally, Biden spoke by phone with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper regarding ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.
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