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8/31/2023 2:12 pm  #1


Biden says he’ll travel to Florida on Saturday following Hurricane

 Idalia


President Biden said Thursday that he plans to travel to Florida Saturday morning after Hurricane Idalia battered the state earlier this week.“I’m going to Florida Saturday morning,” Biden said, after delivering brief remarks at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters after thanking staff for their work responding to the storm.Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 storm and has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it makes its way up the East Coast, causing flooding, significant property damage and power outages across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. 

The news of the trip comes hours after Biden formally approved a major disaster declaration for the state. Biden spoke with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by phone earlier Thursday to inform him of the declaration.“This morning, President Biden called Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to convey that he has signed a Major Disaster Declaration and ordered all available federal resources to help with the continued response to Tropical Storm Idalia,” the White House said in a statement.The statement added, “The president reiterated that the people of Florida have his full support as they recover from the storm.

”In remarks from the FEMA National Response Coordination Center, Biden took the opportunity to call on Congress to pass funding for the federal Disaster Relief Fund.“I’m calling on Congress to make sure you’re able to have the funds to be able to continue to show up and meet the needs of the American people to deal with immediate crises that we’re facing right now, as well as the long-term commitments we have to make to finish the job in Maui and elsewhere,” Biden said.

Biden also offered a sideways swipe at lawmakers who’ve questioned the need for additional funding for the agency, questioning how, in the wake of twin disasters this month, anyone could question the need for more funding.“We need this money done, we need this disaster relief request met, we need to do it in September, we can’t wait,”

Biden said.Biden spoke with DeSantis multiple times ahead of and during the hurricane. The governor was set to meet with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to assess needs on Thursday. He joked Thursday that he should have the Republican governor “on direct dial” given how often they’re speaking.

Speaking about his interactions with the GOP presidential candidate, Biden offered praise for DeSantis Wednesday.“I think he trusts my judgment and my desire to help, and I trust him to be able to suggest that this is not about politics, it’s about taking care of the of the state,” he said.

The immediate focus in Florida on Thursday for FEMA is accounting for those in Hurricane Idalia’s path and efforts toward power restoration, Criswell told “CNN This Morning.”Criswell, who arrived in the state Wednesday afternoon, is spending Thursday with state and local officials assessing the storm’s impact and what additional resources and funding are still needed.

Last edited by Spunky (8/31/2023 2:15 pm)

 

9/01/2023 7:01 am  #2


Re: Biden says he’ll travel to Florida on Saturday following Hurricane

“I think he trusts my judgement and my desire to help, and I trust him to be able to suggest that this is not about politics, it’s about taking care of the state,” he said.”…….I sure hope Gov De Santis doesn’t turn around and blame the Biden administration of of not doing anything to help the state of Florida when the Presidential election debates happen.

 

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