This article covers the aftermath of two hurricanes Milton in Florida and Helene in North Carolina and the political context surrounding their responses.
President Joe Biden is visiting Florida to survey damage and push for more disaster funding, while Vice President Kamala Harris is focusing on relief efforts and campaign events in North Carolina.
The hurricanes have added urgency to Biden’s call for Congress to approve more funding for agencies like FEMA and the Small Business Administration, though House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated the issue will be handled after the election.
Biden plans to announce $612 million for Department of Energy projects to bolster the electric grid in affected areas, with $94 million allocated to Florida.
Meanwhile, Harris continues her Souls to the Polls initiative, aiming to energize Black voters before Election Day.
Both Biden and Harris have criticized Donald Trump’s false claims about the federal response, particularly in North Carolina.
Republicans, including Trump, have criticized the Biden administration’s handling of disaster relief, while tensions between Harris and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also surface as the political landscape becomes more competitive with less than a month until the election.