DeSantis Speaks on Helene Recovery: 'We have what we need right now'
The governor expressed a preference for President Joe Biden to visit North Carolina, where active rescues are currently taking place.
TroibNews 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has received adequate federal support following the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. He suggested that President Joe Biden should not visit Florida to assist with recovery efforts.
During a press conference in the storm-damaged town of Steinhatchee, DeSantis expressed a preference for Biden to concentrate on North Carolina, where significant destruction from the storm has occurred. The heavy rains and strong winds of Hurricane Helene have resulted in at least 100 fatalities across multiple states, with numerous people still unaccounted for and critical roadways in disarray—especially in North Carolina, where access has become limited to air travel in some regions.
“We have what we need now,” DeSantis said. “I think most of the effort should be in Western North Carolina right now because you still have active rescues that need to take place.”
Biden had approved a major disaster declaration for Florida on Saturday, releasing billions in federal disaster aid via FEMA to support the state and its residents affected by the Category 4 hurricane.
On the same day, Biden remarked that Congress might need to reconvene to authorize additional disaster funding and confirmed his intent to visit the affected regions once it would not interfere with recovery efforts.
“I’m committed to traveling in impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told that it’d be disruptive if I did it right now," he stated in Washington. "We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any, any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis. My first responsibility is to get all the help needed to those impacted areas.”
In Florida, DeSantis has initiated Operation Blue Ridge, a program set up to transport residents who were stranded in North Carolina back to safety. While responders in Florida can utilize boats for assistance, the areas in North Carolina that sustained storm damage are several hundred miles from the coast.
“I just really think the federal government should focus on that,” DeSantis remarked.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a press conference in the storm-damaged town of Steinhatchee, DeSantis expressed a preference for Biden to concentrate on North Carolina, where significant destruction from the storm has occurred. The heavy rains and strong winds of Hurricane Helene have resulted in at least 100 fatalities across multiple states, with numerous people still unaccounted for and critical roadways in disarray—especially in North Carolina, where access has become limited to air travel in some regions.
“We have what we need now,” DeSantis said. “I think most of the effort should be in Western North Carolina right now because you still have active rescues that need to take place.”
Biden had approved a major disaster declaration for Florida on Saturday, releasing billions in federal disaster aid via FEMA to support the state and its residents affected by the Category 4 hurricane.
On the same day, Biden remarked that Congress might need to reconvene to authorize additional disaster funding and confirmed his intent to visit the affected regions once it would not interfere with recovery efforts.
“I’m committed to traveling in impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told that it’d be disruptive if I did it right now," he stated in Washington. "We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any, any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis. My first responsibility is to get all the help needed to those impacted areas.”
In Florida, DeSantis has initiated Operation Blue Ridge, a program set up to transport residents who were stranded in North Carolina back to safety. While responders in Florida can utilize boats for assistance, the areas in North Carolina that sustained storm damage are several hundred miles from the coast.
“I just really think the federal government should focus on that,” DeSantis remarked.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
