President Biden has canceled an upcoming international trip to oversee federal storm preparations and response efforts as Hurricane Milton, a dangerous Category 4 storm, heads towards Florida. The death toll from Hurricane Helene continues to rise, leaving nearly 200,000 people without power or running water. Biden emphasized the severity of Hurricane Milton, urging those under evacuation orders to leave immediately.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis praised the federal storm response, stating that all requests made to President Biden have been approved. However, a dispute arose between DeSantis and Vice President Kamala Harris, with DeSantis accusing Harris of politicizing the situation. Harris criticized DeSantis for not taking her calls regarding storm recovery efforts, calling his actions selfish.
DeSantis defended his focus on the people of Florida and criticized Harris for attempting to inject politics into the situation. The back-and-forth between the two escalated, with Harris labeling DeSantis' actions as irresponsible and selfish. Despite the political tensions, Biden confirmed that Harris has been helpful in dealing with the hurricanes.
With the 2024 election looming, the politics of federal disaster relief have taken center stage. Former President Donald Trump has criticized Biden and Harris over the federal response to Hurricane Helene, prompting Harris to accuse Trump of spreading misinformation. As the election approaches, the handling of natural disasters has become a key issue in the campaign.
