ST. PETE BEACH, Florida — President Joe Biden on Sunday announced over $600 million will be sent to the states impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, which tore through Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Biden made the announcement while surveying storm-damaged Florida and said $100 million of the money would go toward improvements to Florida’s power system.
“Thankfully the storm’s impact was not as cataclysmic as we predicted,” Biden said. “But for some individuals, it was cataclysmic. All those folks who not only lost their homes, but more importantly, those folks who lost their lives, lost family members.”
Florida officials have confirmed 17 deaths in Milton’s aftermath. Over a million residents are still without power because of the storm, which came just two weeks after Hurricane Helene slammed into Sunshine State.
Of the $600-plus, $47 million for Gainesville Regional Utilities and $47 million for the company Switched Source, which helps modernize existing infrastructure.
“For some individuals, it was cataclysmic,” Biden said. “All those folks who probably lost their home, and, more importantly, those folks who lost their lives, lost family members, lost all their personal belongings.”
“This funding will not only restore power, but will make the region’s power system stronger and more capable and reduce the frequency and duration of power outages while extreme weather events become more frequent,” he said.
Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida on Friday, freeing up federal funds for residents and business owners to use for temporary housing and home repairs.
The President’s visit comes as former President Donald Trump continues to make false claims about the federal response, including that the government isn’t providing aid to some areas.
“These investments are part of the president’s commitment to making long-term investments that protect, enhance, and upgrade our nation’s electric grid, especially in the face of extreme weather events,” the White House said in a statement.
Biden appeared to indirectly point to the criticism from Trump and other Republicans, saying that disaster relief is not a partisan issue.
“We are one United States,” Biden said.
