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    • How Hurricane Helene’s damage collides with the 2024 presidential election
    Michigan

    How Hurricane Helene’s damage collides with the 2024 presidential election

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    WASHINGTON — The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene collided with the politics of the 2024 presidential campaign as former President Donald Trump attacks the Biden administration’s response.

    It has increased pressure on Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia, both hit by flooding.

    Trump will visit Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday afternoon to give his speech, learn about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and “facilitate the distribution of relief supplies,” his campaign team said.

    At a campaign rally on Sunday in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump accused Biden of “sleeping right now” while the president spent the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He mocked Harris for attending a fundraiser in San Francisco on Saturday “with her radical left-wing crazy donors” while much of our country was being devastated by this massive hurricane.

    Harris, who held a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, canceled other campaign stops on the West Coast to return to Washington on Monday for an afternoon briefing at FEMA headquarters. Harris spoke Sunday with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    “The vice president intends to visit affected communities as soon as possible without disrupting the emergency response,” a White House official said.

    More: Hard-hit areas struggle after Helene; at least 100 dead: live updates

    At least 100 people have died and more than 2 million are without power in parts of western North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. A total of more than 11 inches of rain fell in Atlanta in 48 hours, breaking a record that had stood for nearly 150 years. Western North Carolina was hit hardest by the devastating rains, with some areas recording more than 30 inches.

    In Buncombe County, North Carolina, which includes devastated Asheville, the rubble was overwhelming.

    “We have biblical devastation throughout the county. We had biblical floods here,” said Ryan Cole, deputy director of Buncombe County Emergency Services.

    Biden said in a statement from the White House on Monday that he was “committed to traveling to affected areas as quickly as possible,” but was told that his presence would be disruptive if he left immediately.

    “We will not do this at the risk of diverting or delaying the response resources needed to address this crisis,” Biden said. “I expect to be there later this week.”

    Biden said he spoke Sunday with Cooper, Kemp and officials from Florida, Tennessee and other states affected by the storm, calling it “not just a catastrophic storm” but a “historic storm.” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on site in Asheville, North Carolina, Biden said.

    “I want them to know that we are not leaving until the job is done,” Biden said, adding that 3,600 federal workers have been deployed to the Southeast to help with rescue efforts and clear debris.

    In addition to FEMA personnel, this includes members of the National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Communications Commission employees helping to restore communications capability, and Department of Defense officials.

    “We know there is more to do. “We will continue to provide resources, including food, water, communications and life-saving equipment,” Biden said.

    Biden bristled at a reporter’s question about criticism that he should have remained in Washington over the weekend to command the hurricane response.

    “I commanded. “I spoke on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before,” Biden said. “It’s called a telephone.”

    Asked whether Trump’s visit to Georgia represented a disruption to recovery efforts, Biden said: “I have no idea.”

    Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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