An aerial view reveals the impact of Hurricane Idalia as floodwaters submerge the streets of New Port Richey, Florida, illuminating the aftermath of this natural disaster. (Source: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo | AFP | Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden paid an unplanned visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters on Thursday, where he made an announcement that he will be embarking on a trip to Florida on Saturday to assess the devastation caused by Hurricane Idalia.
In his address at the FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Biden emphasized the importance of immediate action to save lives, while acknowledging that recovery efforts will be a long-term endeavor. He stated, “Saving lives at this critical moment is imperative, but it’s just the beginning… Restoring the affected regions to their pre-disaster state will take months and even years. I want to assure the people of Florida and the entire southeast region that our nation stands by you.”
Biden held conversations with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on two occasions during the day, as well as with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who is currently present in the state.
Although Idalia initially made landfall on Wednesday morning as a Category 3 hurricane, it has since weakened to a tropical storm. As of Thursday afternoon, the death toll stands at three, and hundreds of thousands of people are without electricity.
Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall later revealed that the president’s visit will focus on the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Idalia.
Sherwood-Randall stated, “The full extent of the damage may take several days to assess. It is evident that the primary destruction is a result of extensive flooding caused by storm surge. We are committed to staying for as long as necessary to provide support and assistance.”
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
