During a visit to Florida’s storm-ravaged Tampa area on Sunday, President Joe Biden pledged over $500 million in federal aid to help restore the state’s heavily damaged electrical grid. Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 10, marked the second major storm to hit the area in a matter of weeks, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. At its peak, the storm caused power outages affecting nearly three million homes and businesses across Florida.
While efforts to restore power are ongoing, over 825,000 residents remain in the dark, according to poweroutage.us. President Biden, after conducting an aerial tour of the damage, acknowledged the hardship faced by many, offering words of empathy to those devastated by the disaster. “For some individuals, it was cataclysmic,” Biden said, praising local first responders for their heroic efforts in the wake of the storm.
Mounting Pressure on FEMA Amid Back-to-Back Storms
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been pushed to its limits as Hurricanes Milton and Helene devastated large parts of the southeastern U.S. Milton, the more recent storm, compounded the damage left by Helene, which had already strained FEMA’s resources. Although President Biden reassured Floridians that the federal government would be doing everything possible to assist, there is growing tension in Washington regarding FEMA’s disaster relief funding.
Despite Congress allocating $20 billion to FEMA prior to Helene’s landfall, only a small portion of these funds has been distributed, raising questions about the agency’s ability to respond quickly to successive disasters. Biden emphasized the need for Congress to expedite additional funding to meet the state’s urgent needs, stating, “I’ve been talking to Congress to see if they can get the money quickly.”
Political Fallout: Funding Disputes by Biden Administration and Trump
Biden’s pledge comes amidst growing political tension, particularly in light of the upcoming November elections. While President Biden has been pushing for increased disaster relief funding, House Speaker Mike Johnson has taken a more cautious stance, stating that Congress will not return to session until after the election. Johnson noted that less than 2% of the $20 billion already appropriated to FEMA has been spent, suggesting that further funding decisions should wait until a full assessment of the storm damage is completed.
Former President Donald Trump, a leading candidate in the 2024 election, has used the crisis to attack Biden, falsely claiming that the administration “stole FEMA money” to support illegal immigrants. Vice President Kamala Harris, running against Trump, quickly condemned his comments, calling them “the height of irresponsibility and, frankly, callousness.” The hurricanes have thus intensified the political storm already brewing in the U.S. election race.
Impact of Hurricanes Milton and Helene: Loss of Life and Widespread Destruction
Hurricanes Milton and Helene have left a trail of destruction across multiple states, with Florida bearing the brunt of both storms. Hurricane Milton, with its devastating winds and powerful storm surges, caused the deaths of at least 17 people and severely damaged homes, infrastructure, and power lines across west and central Florida. The storm also compounded the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which had already left 227 people dead across five states.
Governor Ron DeSantis, who ordered emergency crews to clear debris after Helene, faced significant challenges as much of the cleanup was still underway when Milton made landfall. The back-to-back storms have highlighted the vulnerability of Florida’s coastal regions and raised concerns about the state’s ability to recover in the face of increasingly severe weather events. With vast swaths of the state still without power, the focus now shifts to long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts by Biden administration
