President Joe Biden returned to Florida to assess the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Milton, which hit Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. This marks his second trip to the state in 10 days, following an earlier visit after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the Big Bend area. The back-to-back hurricanes have left millions without power, clean water, and fuel, with significant recovery efforts still underway.
Upon landing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Biden immediately toured the affected areas by helicopter. He met with local officials and first responders and spoke with residents who were left devastated by the storms. Standing in front of a collapsed home in St. Pete Beach, Biden pledged to help Floridians not just recover but also rebuild stronger. He also assured the crowd that power will be restored as soon as possible and it will help them come back better.
Hurricane Milton’s impact spanned much of Florida’s west coast, causing storm surge flooding and wind damage, with tornados adding to the destruction. Central and eastern parts of the state were also hit hard. Amid these crises, political tension rose as Republicans, led by Donald Trump, accused Biden of inadequate response efforts. Biden firmly pushed back, calling for unity in times of disaster, emphasizing that recovery is a national, not political, issue.
The White House detailed extensive federal efforts, including the delivery of millions of meals and gallons of fuel. Biden also announced $614 million in grants to strengthen future storm defenses, with $94 million allocated specifically to Florida’s electric grid. Residents like Paul Giardina, who own property in the heavily damaged St. Pete Beach, expressed relief at Biden’s presence, hoping it would accelerate the recovery.
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