US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to visit the Carolinas and Georgia after Hurricane Helene caused devastating damage, leaving at least 155 people dead and over one million without power. The Category 4 storm brought some of the worst flooding in generations to the region, sweeping away homes and cars.
Biden will visit Greenville, South Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as fly over Asheville, where the storm caused severe devastation. He has issued disaster declarations for multiple states and vowed to provide all available resources to those in need. Meanwhile, Harris will travel to Georgia and also stop by North Carolina in the upcoming days.
The recovery effort is expected to be a ‘years-long multibillion-dollar undertaking’, according to US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This response by the White House administration is seen as a crucial test ahead of the November elections, with North Carolina and Georgia being key battleground states.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized Biden and Harris for their response to the crisis, accusing them of inaction. Biden, however, refuted these claims, emphasizing that his top priority is providing support to the affected communities. The visit by Biden and Harris aims to assess the damage firsthand and ensure that recovery efforts are prioritized to help those in need.
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