‘Much More to Do’: Biden Surveys Hurricane Milton Damage and Recovery in Florida

On Sunday, President Joe Biden visited Florida’s Gulf Coast to witness firsthand the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton.

Surveying the Damage

The powerful Category 3 storm made landfall on Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction that included toppled trees, tattered billboards, and water-damaged homes. Biden’s visit included a helicopter tour of St. Pete Beach and the surrounding areas, where the storm had caused widespread wreckage, including tearing off the roof of Tropicana Field.

As Biden’s motorcade drove through heavily damaged neighborhoods, scenes of debris, ruined homes, and piles of personal belongings lined the streets. The President expressed his gratitude to the first responders, whose efforts helped save lives during the storm. “This is all a team effort,” Biden remarked. “You made a big difference, but there’s much more to do, and we’re going to do everything we can to help you recover and build back stronger.”

Pressing for Additional Aid

Biden’s visit was not just to assess the damage but also to push for additional federal aid. The president has been urging Congress, particularly House Speaker Mike Johnson, to approve more emergency disaster funding. Johnson estimated that about $100 billion might be necessary to cover the damages, but said lawmakers would deal with the issue after the Nov. 5 election. The urgency of the funding is tied to ensuring that federal agencies like the Small Business Administration and FEMA have the resources they need to support recovery efforts through the remainder of hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.

While Johnson has acknowledged the need for resources, he argued that FEMA has sufficient funds for immediate needs. However, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently warned that FEMA is running low on funds and might not be able to handle additional disasters without further support. During his visit, Biden announced $612 million in Department of Energy projects aimed at improving the resilience of the electric grid in hurricane-prone regions. This funding includes $94 million for two Florida projects, one in partnership with Gainesville Regional Utilities and another with Florida Power and Light.

Political Tensions Linger

Amid the hurricane recovery efforts, political tensions between Vice President Kamala Harris and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have added complexity to the situation. As Hurricane Helene approached Florida just two weeks before Milton, the two traded accusations of politicizing the storm response. Harris’s office claimed that DeSantis had dodged her phone calls, while the governor insisted he was unaware she had tried to reach him. Although Biden expressed a hope to meet with DeSantis during his visit to Florida, the governor was not among the officials greeting him in Tampa or participating in the briefing in St. Pete Beach. The absence of DeSantis highlights the ongoing political friction surrounding the federal response to recent disasters.

The Path to Recovery

The immediate focus for Florida remains on restoring power to hundreds of thousands of residents still in the dark and continuing recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Milton. The storm’s death toll has reached at least 10, but officials believe widespread evacuations helped prevent further casualties. With back-to-back storms hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast, the resilience of the state’s emergency response and infrastructure will be tested as communities begin to rebuild.