In an earlier press conference, President Joe Biden said that more than 3,600 federal personnel have been deployed in the multi-state recovery area.
Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, on Sept. 30 to assess damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
Arriving with supplies organized by North Carolina-based Samaritan’s Purse, he addressed a crowd of supporters after receiving a briefing from federal, state, and local officials and meeting with business owners.
“We’re here today to stand in complete solidarity with the people of Georgia and with all of those suffering in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” he said. “Hurricane Helene turned out to be a big one, like just about the biggest that anyone’s seen.”
In a press conference earlier the same day, President Joe Biden said that more than 3,600 federal personnel had been deployed to assist in the multi-state recovery efforts.
Biden also approved emergency declarations from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Alabama, as well as additional disaster declaration requests from Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina to pay for debris removal and provide direct financial assistance to storm victims.
He said he has not yet visited the disaster zones.
“I’m committed to traveling to impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told that it would be disruptive if I did it right now,” Biden said. “We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis.”
Trump said at his meeting with officials in Valdosta: “I spoke with all of the relief people, all of the people that do this for a living and do this at least to help, and they said they’ve never seen one this bad. Valdosta has been ravaged.”
He told the crowd that he came with large semi-trucks filled with relief aid, one tanker truck filled with gasoline, and a couple more on the way, and that he would be coordinating with Elon Musk to get Starlink internet up and running in the area while thousands continue to be without power.
By T.J. Muscaro
