An bird’s-eye view reveals a police car driving along a flooded street in New Port Richey, Florida, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall,Aug 30, 2023.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo|AFP|Getty Images
WASHINGTON– President Joe Biden made a surprise journey to the Federal Emergency Management Agency head office Thursday, where he revealed he would be taking a trip to Florida on Saturday to survey the damage after Hurricane Idalia.
“Showing up for the moment to save the lives is critically important, but that’s just the beginning … and some of it’s going to take months and years to make sure we restore the people to the circumstances there before this disaster hit,” Biden stated at FEMA head office in Washington, D.C. “And to the people of Florida, and throughout the southeast, I’m here to make it clear that our nation has your back.”
Biden spoke to FloridaGov Ron DeSantis two times Thursday and with FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, who remains in the state.
Idalia made landfall Wednesday early morning as a Category 3 cyclone however has actually because deteriorated to a hurricane. As of Thursday afternoon, a minimum of 3 individuals were dead, and numerous thousands were left without power.
Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall stated later on that the president will be checking out the locations more impacted by Idalia.
“We won’t know the full extent of the damage done for several days,” Sherwood-Randall stated, including the primary damage was from flooding due to storm rise. “What we do know is that we will stay there as long as it takes.”
