On his second visit to Florida in just a week, President Joe Biden unveiled a substantial federal aid package exceeding $600 million to assist areas impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. "Today in Florida, I announced $612 million for new grid projects to support communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton," Biden shared on the social media platform X.
The president emphasized that this funding aims to strengthen and modernize the power grid in affected regions by installing underground lines and incorporating cutting-edge technologies. These advancements are intended to minimize the frequency and duration of power outages as extreme weather events become more common.
While the majority of this aid targets Florida, other affected areas such as Georgia and North Carolina are also included, as noted by Telemundo. During his address in St. Pete Beach, an island near St. Petersburg, Biden highlighted that around $100 million would be allocated specifically to enhance Florida’s electrical system.
“Thankfully, the storm’s impact wasn’t as catastrophic as we had feared,” Biden remarked, acknowledging that “for some, it was disastrous,” referencing both the loss of lives and property. According to NBC News, the death toll from Hurricane Milton last week has already reached 24.
Political Implications and Misinformation Challenges
Biden's visit to the St. Petersburg area also serves as a strategic opportunity to urge House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, to push Congress for additional support funds ahead of the November 5 elections. Meanwhile, the administration is countering false claims propagated by Donald Trump concerning federal aid.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently refuted a conspiracy theory suggesting that disaster relief funds were misallocated to assist undocumented immigrants. "This is false. No disaster response funds are being diverted. FEMA’s disaster response and individual assistance efforts are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, dedicated to this purpose. Funds from the Disaster Relief Fund have not been diverted to non-disaster-related efforts," FEMA clarified.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, also a Democratic presidential contender, was campaigning in Greenville, North Carolina, where she participated in a church service and other campaign events.
Beyond the tragic loss of life, Hurricane Milton left a trail of destruction in Florida, exacerbated not only by severe flooding and high winds but also by 19 confirmed tornadoes, nine of which struck the southern part of the state before the hurricane made landfall.