Biden, Harris to visit areas hit by Hurricane Helene
October 2, 2024
Floodwaters have receded but hundreds of people are still missing after the powerful storm swept across the southeastern United States. More than 160 people have died.
Hurricane Helene has devastated a region of the Appalachian mountains covering several US states, including North Carolina and GeorgiaImage: Mike Stewart/AP/picture alliance
Harris, who became the Democratic party nominee in the US presidential election after Biden dropped out, will travel on her own to the southern state of Georgia.
Meanwhile, Biden will head to North Carolina, where he will make a helicopter trip over the city of Asheville, one of the areas worst hit by the storm.
Biden will also visit a rescue command center in the state before traveling to neighboring South Carolina.
"My top priority is to ensure the communities devastated by this hurricane get the help and support they need as quickly as possible," Biden told reporters Tuesday.
The US president added that he had not traveled to the affected areas sooner because rescue workers said his visit would have affected operations on the ground.
The White House said Biden is also expected to travel to Florida, another state affected by the storm, in the coming days.
Hurricane Helene hits Florida
Hurricane Helene, which was initially considered "extremely dangerous," has made landfall in Florida. Although it's been downgraded, it still caused flooding and power outages, and several people lost their lives.
Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
In the eye of the storm
On Thursday evening (local time), Helene made landfall on the coast of Florida. The US National Hurricane Center warns of "catastrophic winds," storm surges and heavy rainfall, even though the hurricane weakened on its way inland.
Image: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/AP Photo/picture alliance
Dangerous spectacle
Impressive, but also life-threatening: One person died in a car accident in the coastal city of Tampa, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Helene has also claimed lives in Georgia: A man and a woman died when a caravan was hit by a tornado and flung across a highway.
Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
'Nightmare' storm surge expected
Meteorologists warn that Helene could trigger a "nightmare" storm surge in coastal areas. The storm, which is rapidly moving inland, has since been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane, with wind speeds of up to 145 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour). But it remains dangerous.
Image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Fear of flooding
In Madeira Beach, Florida, the hurricane left streets flooded. The National Weather Service fears flooding on a scale not seen for more than a century and warns of waves up to six meters high (19 feet). The entire west coast of Florida and the Big Bend region in the north of the state are particularly affected.
Image: Max Chesnes/AP Photo/picture alliance
Catastrophe in the Carribean
Over the past few days, the hurricane had already caused numerous floods and power cuts in Cuba. Severe flooding, such as here in Batabano, cut off several villages on the Caribbean island from the outside world. Jesus Hernandez transports his little granddaughter across the flooded streets in a small container.
Image: Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo/picture alliance
Storm causes power outages
Even before it hit the US East Coast, strong winds caused chaos and destroyed power lines, such as here near Crawfordville, Florida. According to the website poweroutage.us, more than 1.1 million households in Florida were without power, while 90,000 households in the neighboring state of Georgia were affected.
Image: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
'Be safe'
Like many of her compatriots, Amber Hardin has taken refuge in an emergency shelter. US President Joe Biden appealed to people in the affected areas to follow the evacuation instructions issued by the local authorities. "Take this seriously, and be safe," Biden said.
Image: Octavio Jones/REUTERS
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Storm becomes political
Hurricane Helene has devastated a region of the Appalachian mountains covering the US states of North Carolina and Georgia — two of the seven crucial swing states that could decide the result of the presidential election.
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Former President Donald Trump sought to make political capital out of the disaster, accusing the US government, without evidence, of ignoring the crisis and denying help to his supporters.
Trump accused Biden of "sleeping" at his beach home in Delaware while Harris was at campaign fundraisers on the US West Coast, instead of being in Washington to manage the crisis.
The Republican nominee for president meanwhile visited the disaster zone on Monday, traveling to the stricken town of Valdosta in Georgia and promising to "bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things."
Biden flatly rejected Trump's criticism and acused him of spreading lies.
"He's lying," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, adding that he had spoken to North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper "and he told him he's lying. I don't know why he does it ... that's simply not true, and it's irresponsible."
jcg/nm (AP, Reuters)
Hundreds missing in US after deadly Hurricane Helene
