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President Biden on Friday joked that Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm is his “boss” and referred to Vice President Kamala Harris because the “president” whereas he delivered an replace on hurricane restoration efforts from the White Home.
Seated within the Roosevelt Room with members of his Cupboard, together with the secretary and the vp, who joined by teleconference, Biden stated the priorities for his administration are energy restoration and particles removing.
“Our coronary heart goes out to all these of us who’ve misplaced not solely private property, however their properties and a few misplaced lives and grieving after the aftermath of the tornadoes, brutal wind, report downpours and historic flooding,” Biden stated.
The president knowledgeable reporters that he has spoken with dozens of officers from North Carolina, Florida and different states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton within the final two weeks. In keeping with Biden, specialists have estimated that Milton brought about $50 billion in injury alone.
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President Biden speaks on the federal response to hurricanes Helene and Milton within the Roosevelt Room of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Friday. (Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)
“We will do the whole lot we will that can assist you choose again up the items and get again to the place you have been,” he stated.
North Carolina authorities on Friday confirmed at the least 92 storm-related fatalities from Hurricane Helene, however have been unable to supply the variety of those that stay lacking or unaccounted for. Florida officers confirmed at the least eight individuals are lifeless after Hurricane Milton spawned at the least 4 tornadoes which wreaked havoc in St. Lucie County, The Related Press reported.
Greater than 3 million folks stay with out energy in Florida and an untold variety of properties are broken from flooding, heavy wind and fallen timber. Even so, 50,000 energy line staff pre-staged by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have already restored energy to 1 million clients.
President Biden reiterated that the federal authorities is absolutely concerned in rescue and restoration efforts, together with the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Military Corps and the Florida Nationwide Guard. He additionally criticized “disgusting” claims unfold on-line that counsel the federal hurricane response has been insufficient.
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President Biden on Friday once more referred to Vice President Kamala Harris because the president, after an ungainly interruption from Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who sought to remind Biden to toss to Harris. (Fox Information)
The 81-year-old president appeared to path off towards the conclusion of his remarks. At that time, Granholm interrupted by touching Biden on the arm, apparently to remind him to show over the microphone to the vp.
“I do know,” Biden stated. “I’ll go to the vp in a second.”
President Biden on Friday joked that Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm is his “boss.” (Fox Information)
Then, with a look towards the reporters within the room, he grabbed the secretary’s hand and joked, “She’s my boss right here.”
Harris then appeared to interject, and Biden replied, “Hold on a second, Madame Vice President.”
Earlier than turning the information convention over to Harris, Biden stated his administration will request further funds from Congress for restoration efforts.
DESANTIS FIRES BACK AT HARRIS OVER HURRICANE RESPONSE: ‘SHE HAS NO ROLE IN THIS PROCESS’
Vice President Kamala Harris seems just about as President Biden speaks on the federal response to hurricanes Helene and Milton within the Roosevelt Room of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Friday. (Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)
“We will want quite a lot of assist. We’d like much more cash,” he stated. “So I am simply telling everyone now that I do not wish to hear that is going to be the tip of it. So with that, I’ll yield to the president, I imply, the vp,” he stated.
Harris has clashed with DeSantis in current days after the Republican governor declined to take her name relating to the hurricane response. He stated Thursday that the vp has “no function” within the course of and added that she had by no means tried to name him throughout earlier storms in Florida.
“I’m working with the president of america. I am working with the director of FEMA. We have been doing this now nonstop for over two weeks,” DeSantis stated Thursday.
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Talking from a TV display, Harris made an effort to indicate that she is concerned in cupboard discussions about restoration efforts, noting that she has spoken with Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about cracking down on purported price-gouging within the wake of the catastrophe.
“We proceed to coordinate assets with native and state authorities, together with meals, water, medical provides and mills, and we are going to proceed to work with the groups on the bottom to revive water and energy as shortly as doable within the coming days and weeks,” Harris stated.
“President Biden and I’ll make it possible for the communities which can be there on the bottom and have been affected may have the assets they needn’t solely to answer the storm, but additionally to get better. And we are going to proceed to maintain communities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and throughout the Southeast ensured that they’ll get better from Hurricane Helene.”
“The underside line is we’re on this for the lengthy haul,” she stated.
Fox Information Digital’s Bradford Betz and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Chris Pandolfo is a author for Fox Information Digital. Ship tricks to [email protected] and comply with him on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.
