US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to visit the Carolinas and Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a devastating Category 4 storm that killed at least 155 people and left more than one million without power. The storm caused severe flooding in the region, leading to destroyed homes and cars.
Biden will visit Greenville, South Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as fly over Asheville, where some of the worst damage occurred. He has issued disaster declarations for multiple states affected by the storm and vowed to send all available resources to help the communities in need.
Vice President Harris will be traveling to Georgia on Wednesday and is also expected to visit North Carolina in the coming days. The administration’s handling of the crisis is seen as a crucial test ahead of the November elections, with battleground states like North Carolina and Georgia potentially playing a key role in the outcome.
The response to Hurricane Helene has become a point of contention between Biden and his opponent, former President Donald Trump, who has accused Biden of not acting swiftly enough. Biden has denied these claims and stated that his priority is ensuring that the affected communities receive the assistance they require in a timely manner.
The recovery from Hurricane Helene is expected to be a long and costly process, with US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas estimating it to be a “multibillion-dollar undertaking” that will take years to complete.
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