President Biden said that Hurricane Ian could end up being the deadliest in Florida’s history.
The President made the remark while addressing a meeting with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) on Thursday.
‘This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history,’ Biden said. ‘The numbers are still unclear, but we are hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life.’
‘My message to the people of Florida: at times like this, America comes together. We’re gonna pull together as one team, as one America,’ he said. Biden also noted that he would soon visit the state when it was appropriate to go.
It is currently unclear how many people have died as a result of Hurricane Ian. At least one man in Deltona was confirmed to have died after falling into a canal during the storm.
Florida’s current deadliest hurricane was the Okeechobee Hurricane, which hit the state in 1928 and killed around 2,500 people mostly around Lake Okeechobee.
Biden said he spoke to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ‘four or five times,’ and that the Republican governor thanked him for the federal government’s quick disaster response.
Earlier today, the President approved an expedited request for federal disaster relief funds, meaning the federal government will cover the costs of clearing debris, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring public buildings such as schools and fire departments.
DeSantis has been a fierce critic of the Biden administration’s policies in recent weeks, especially its policies concerning immigration and the southern border. Despite that, Biden said the two have been working together well on disaster relief for the Sunshine State. ‘This is about saving people’s lives, homes and businesses,’ the President said.
Biden also addressed the ongoing disaster in Puerto Rico, where Hurricane Fiona left nearly the entire island without power.
‘To the people of Puerto Rico: I am committed to you and the recovery of the island. We’ll stand by you for however long it takes to get it done. I know the folks here at FEMA are working nonstop around the clock.’
Ian hit the southwestern coast of Florida on Wednesday afternoon while sustaining winds of 150 mph.
Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made its way inland, but forecasters are now expecting it to return to hurricane strength as it moves up through Georgia and the Carolinas.
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