ASHEVILLE, United States: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spearheaded the federal response to the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which has left at least 162 dead across six states.
Biden visited South Carolina and North Carolina, where he witnessed firsthand the devastation in Asheville, including collapsed bridges, washed-out roads, and demolished buildings. Harris, meanwhile, traveled to Georgia to distribute aid and survey damage in heavily impacted areas.
The federal response involves more than 10,000 officials, emergency responders, and National Guard troops across the southeastern U.S. Biden emphasized the nation’s commitment to helping affected communities, approving major disaster declarations and deploying up to 1,000 soldiers to North Carolina to deliver life-saving supplies. He also highlighted the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events, stating that “nobody can deny the impact of the climate crisis anymore.”
In Georgia, Harris comforted residents and distributed food to affected families, assuring them that the federal government was there for the “long haul.” Both North Carolina and Georgia are critical swing states in the upcoming election, and early voting has already begun.
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The political implications of the storm response were underscored by attacks from former president Donald Trump, who accused the Biden administration of neglecting Trump supporters in the disaster zones, a claim Biden dismissed as “irresponsible.” As Biden and Harris contend with the ongoing hurricane response, they are also navigating other crises, including escalating tensions in the Middle East and a major dockworkers’ strike.
