President Biden vowed at a press convention Monday discussing federal response to Hurricane Helene that he would go to a few of the most devastated areas – however not but.
At the tip of the press convention, which was interrupted by his frequent coughs, the president grew defensive when a reporter pressed him on who was in command over the weekend to direct hurricane response. Biden spent the weekend at his seaside house in Delaware.
The heated alternate occurred on the White House after Biden concluded his remarks and turned to go away the Roosevelt Room.
“And the hurricane. Mr. President, why weren't you and Vice President Harris here in Washington commanding this this weekend?” a reporter yelled because the president exited.
“I was commanding it,” Biden retorted from the doorway. “I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well. I command it. It's called a telephone and all my security people.”
Biden turned once more to go away because the reporter started to ask, “Is it not important for the country to see?” The president left, and the door closed mid-question.
ASHEVILLE RESIDENTS BATTLING ‘APOCALYPTIC' AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE HELENE AFTER DEADLY FLOODING, LANDSLIDES
At the beginning of his remarks, Biden assured that he and his staff have been “in constant contact with governors, mayors and local leaders” concerning Hurricane Helene.
President Biden speaks to reporters as he departs the Roosevelt Room after talking about Hurricane Helene response efforts on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The president famous that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the bottom in North Carolina and can stay within the Asheville space. Biden acknowledged stories indicating greater than 100 individuals are lifeless and about 600 individuals stay unaccounted for and can't but be contacted on account of the storm.
“We're keeping them all in our prayers and all the lives lost and those particular unaccounted for. There's nothing like wondering is my husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father alive and many more who remain without electricity – water, food and communications and homes and businesses have washed away in an instant. I want them to know we're not leaving until the job is done,” Biden mentioned.
“Also want you to know I'm committed to traveling to the impacted areas as soon as possible, but I've been told that it would be disruptive if I did it right now,” Biden added.
NORTH CAROLINA LAWMAKER COMPARES AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE HELENE TO A ‘WARZONE'
He defined that he would go to later within the week. “We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any – any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis. My first responsibility is get all the help needed to those impacted areas,” Biden mentioned. “I expect to be there later this week.”
“I'm directing my team to provide every, every available resource as fast as possible to your communities to rescue, recover, and to begin rebuilding,” Biden mentioned.
President Biden coughs as he speaks about the federal response efforts for Hurricane Helene on the White House on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
In addition to FEMA, Biden mentioned he directed the Federal Communications Commission to assist set up communications functionality, in addition to the National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Defense “to provide all the resources at its disposal to rescue and assist in clearing debris and delivering lifesaving supplies.”
So far, greater than 3,600 personnel have been permitted up to now, the president mentioned. He additionally permitted requests from the governors of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia and Alabama for an emergency declaration.
Biden mentioned that as president he’s seen “firsthand the devastating toll that disasters like this take on families and communities” and has heard “dozens of stories from survivors about how it feels to be lefty with nothing.” He urged these in impacted areas to head to the warnings from emergency officers.
An uprooted tree landed on a pickup truck in entrance of a house on East Main Street after Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Glen Alpine, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
“Take this seriously. Please be safe. Your nation has your back and the Biden-Harris administration will be there until the job is done,” Biden mentioned.
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The president additionally acknowledged three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department who have been significantly harm in a crash close to the Texas-Louisiana border over the weekend.
“One of the brave teams that volunteered to be there was from San Diego County Fire Department, set to travel all the way from California to North Carolina to help, but on their way they were in a terrible car accident in Louisiana. We pray for their full recovery. But it was a bad accident,” he mentioned.
