Biden’s Response to Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene made landfall last Thursday, yet acts of flooding, destruction and fatalities do not have an end in sight. This is making aspects of rescue difficult and dangerous, as those in states affected await further direction.

President Joe Biden arrived this week to survey the damages inflicted on states such as Florida and Georgia as the death toll topped 200 making Helene one of the deadliest hurricanes in American history as well as only the ninth to top 100 deaths since the 1950s.

Biden spent Wednesday visiting the Carolinas by air before moving to survey damages inland.

What will be done according to Biden?

The president stated, "Congress has an obligation, it seems to me, to ensure that states have the resources they need." This will likely bring need for the government to pass aid funding in order to assist the billions in damages caused.

Biden announced Wednesday he’s aiming for the Pentagon to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to help communities in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas as they suffer without food, power and homes while many are still unaccounted for or trapped.

The White House released the following:

“At the President’s direction, the Department of Defense has activated 22 helicopters to aid in search and rescue operations and provided dozens of high-water vehicles. The National Guard, in its state capacity, is also aiding these efforts. 700 National Guard from North Carolina are supporting debris removal, air lifts, and search and rescue.”

The president has recently also approved disaster aid for Georgia and Virginia, allowing individual counties in Georgia and six in Virginia to apply for assistance.

Biden said politics is not the deciding factor right now, but more so leaned into the idea that at the end of the day everyone is just American. He is set to continue to meet with members in multitude of organizations and sections of the government until more is moved along.

Bronwyn Liber is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu.