President Joe Biden saw firsthand the devastation Hurricane Milton caused on Florida’s Gulf Coast Sunday as he pressed Congress to approve additional emergency disaster funds.
Biden arrived in Tampa and went by helicopter to St. Pete Beach to examine the destruction left behind by Milton, including the roof of Tropicana Field, which the storm’s tremendous winds had ripped off. Later, when the president’s procession traveled down the highway, piles of trash, shredded billboards, crumbled fences, fallen trees, and closed gas stations were visible. It traveled through a neighborhood where nearly every house had water damage and piles of items on the curb.
“I’m here just to thank the brave first responders,” Biden told reporters. “This is all a team effort, folks. You made a big difference, and it saved lives, but there’s much more to do, and we’re going to do everything we can to get power back in your homes to help you recover and build back stronger.” The visit allowed Biden to lobby House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for legislative approval of additional humanitarian funds before the November 5 election. Johnson stated on Sunday that lawmakers will address the matter after the election due to the time it takes to develop an estimate. On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” he stated that his “guess” is that a $100 bill will be required. Wouldn’t provide the additional resources,” Johnson added.
Biden announced $612 million in Florida for six Department of Energy projects in hurricane-affected areas to strengthen the region’s power grid. The investment includes $94 million for two Florida projects: $47 million for Gainesville Regional Utilities and $47 million for Switched Source, a partnership with Florida Power and Light. The president urges Congress to act quickly to ensure that the Small Business Administration and FEMA have the funds they need to get through hurricane season, which ends on November 30 in the Atlantic. He claimed Friday that Milton alone had inflicted an estimated $50 billion in harm. As Helene approached Florid, tensions are also brewing between Kamala Harris and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The two traded charges that the other attempted to politicize the federal storm response.
Harris’s office alleged last week that DeSantis was ignoring her phone calls. DeSantis stated that he was unaware she had called, and he complained that she had not participated in the federal government’s response before becoming the Democratic nominee. Biden hoped to see DeSantis on Sunday if the governor’s schedule permitted. DeSantis was not one of the officials who welcomed Biden in Tampa or attended his briefing on St. Pete Beach. Hurricane Milton landed in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday evening. At least ten people were killed, and hundreds of thousands of inhabitants are still without power. According to officials, the death toll could have been much higher if widespread evacuations had not occurred. The still-fresh damage caused by Helene just two weeks prior likely compelled many individuals to evacuate.
