President Joe Biden visited the Tampa area of Florida on Sunday to conduct an aerial tour of the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton, the second major storm to hit the area in as many weeks.
On his visit, Biden pledged more than $500m (£380m) to help restore the state’s damaged electrical grid. Roughly three million businesses and homes in Florida lost power at the storm’s peak, which made landfall on 10 October, and over 825,000 are still off the grid, according to poweroutage.us.
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Biden Pledges Half a Billion Dollars
Milton, and Hurricane Helene that arrived before it, have placed an immense strain on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).After President Biden’s aerial tour on Sunday, he said: “Thankfully, the storm’s impact was not as cataclysmic as we had predicted. “He then said: “For some individuals, it was cataclysmic.” Biden thanked first responders and other local officials for their effort, while offering his empathy to residents whom he said he knows are “heartbroken and exhausted”.
The president’s pledge to provide over half a billion dollars to help repair Florida’s electrical grid comes amid rising tension over budgeting on Capitol Hill. Some US lawmakers have urged Congress to return to session early to negotiate additional disaster relief funding for Fema. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, the highest-ranking official in the US House of Representatives, said Congress’s return “can wait”.
Johnson said Congress will return to session as planned, after the election on 5 November, and address the need for more funding when states have completed their assessments of the storm’s damage.
“Before Hurricane Helene made landfall… Congress appropriated $20bn (£15.3bn) to Fema so that they would have the resources to address immediate needs,” Johnson said, speaking on CBS News, the BBC’s media partner, on Sunday.
“I just checked this morning, less than 2% of that funding has been distributed,” he said. In Florida, Biden said he had been “talking to Congress to see if they can get the money quickly. “It’s important,” he said. The known death toll from Helene, which hit multiple states – including Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida – stands at 227.Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in west Florida on 10 October, hit many of the same areas as Helene, leaving at least 17 people dead.
Milton’s ripping winds combined with deadly storm surges flattened west and central Florida homes, flipped cars and stripped power lines. It also added to the destruction caused by Helene. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had ordered emergency crews to work around-the-clock to remove debris caused by Helene ahead of Milton’s arrival. Much of it still remained as Milton made landfall.
The hurricanes have added to the brewing political storm as the US presidential election is in full swing. Donald Trump has made false claims that the Biden administration “stole Fema money… so they could give it to their illegal immigrants that they want to have vote for them this season.”
Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump, responded by saying his remarks are “the height of irresponsibility and, frankly, callousness”.
A Lifeline for Floridians
Florida has been hit hard by a series of powerful storms this year, with widespread power outages leaving communities from Miami to Jacksonville in the dark. As temperatures soared and essential services faltered, many residents struggled to access clean water, food, and medical care. The damage to power grids and utility systems has been extensive, with some areas still waiting for full restoration weeks after the storms passed.
“We see you, we hear you, and help is on the way,” Biden said in a speech in Tampa. “This funding will go directly toward getting power back on and making sure Florida’s infrastructure is stronger and more resilient in the face of future storms.”
The $500 million will be funneled through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies to assist state and local governments in restoring electricity and repairing damaged utilities. The money will also be used to fortify power grids to better withstand future hurricanes, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Restoring Power, Rebuilding Lives
For Floridians, the announcement couldn’t come at a better time. In some rural areas, power outages have persisted for weeks, creating major challenges for families and businesses. Hospitals have been relying on backup generators, and many households have been left without refrigeration or air conditioning in the sweltering heat.
Maria Sanchez, a resident of Fort Myers whose home was left without power for nearly a month, expressed relief at the news. “We’ve been struggling to get by, especially with young kids and elderly family members in the house,” she said. “It’s good to know that help is finally on the way.”
The federal aid package is designed to speed up recovery and ensure that Florida’s energy infrastructure is more resilient in the future. In addition to repairing damaged power lines and substations, the funding will support the modernization of grid technology to help utilities respond more quickly to outages.
Bipartisan Support for Recovery
The President’s announcement has garnered bipartisan praise, with Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis expressing his gratitude for the federal assistance. “We welcome this critical funding, which will help our state recover faster and ensure Floridians have the resources they need to rebuild their lives,” DeSantis said in a statement.
In a rare moment of unity between the Biden administration and Florida’s state government, both parties emphasized the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by extreme weather events. With hurricane season in full swing, the focus has been on immediate recovery efforts and long-term resilience planning.
Preparing for the Future
As storms become more frequent and severe, both state and federal officials acknowledge that rebuilding is not enough. The Biden administration has called for significant investments in climate resilience, which would include not only strengthening power grids but also upgrading roads, bridges, and other infrastructure that is vulnerable to storm damage.
“We can’t keep waiting for the next disaster to strike before we take action,” Biden said. “This is about building a stronger, safer future for Florida and every other state that faces the growing risks of climate change.” In addition to the immediate funding for power restoration, Biden’s broader infrastructure plan includes billions of dollars for climate adaptation projects aimed at protecting coastal communities and reducing the impact of future storms.
Floridians Hope for Relief
For now, the priority is getting power back to the millions of Floridians still dealing with the aftermath of the storms. Utility crews have been working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure, but the process has been slow due to the scale of the destruction. “I’m just praying that things get back to normal soon,” said Chris Miller, a business owner in Pensacola. “It’s been a tough few weeks, but knowing that help is coming gives us a bit of hope.”
As Biden’s $500 million pledge begins to take effect, many Floridians are hopeful that the power will be restored quickly and that their communities will be better prepared for the challenges of the future.
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