President Biden told Floridians who were hit by two major hurricanes in recent weeks that he knows “how devastating it is to lose your home.”
He told reporters that his house was struck by lightning “a few years ago” and what he missed most were “my daughter's drawings… All the family photos, all the albums, everything that's really important.”
“The fact is that when you lose your wedding ring, old photos, souvenirs of your children and family, things that cannot be replaced… sometimes, from my own experience, I know that this is what hurts the most,” the president said.
He was in Florida to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm that hit the state on Wednesday evening.
It was the second major storm to hit Florida in recent weeks, with the state suffering millions of dollars in damage.
The president took a helicopter tour of the affected areas, heading to St. Petersburg, Florida.
At least 17 people died during Hurricane Milton, which came just two weeks after Hurricane Helene killed 236 people in six states, including Florida.
In parts of Florida where flooding continues, people still have difficulty accessing electricity and fuel.
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Florida before and after Hurricane Milton
River levels around Tampa Bay and parts of Orlando continue to rise, according to the National Weather Service website, which warns that more flooding is on the way.
President Biden urged Congress to approve additional disaster funding.
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He pressed House Speaker Mike Johnson to approve more aid ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. election, but Johnson maintains the issue will be considered after the vote.
The effects of Hurricane Milton. Photo: NBC
The president used his trip to Florida to announce $612 million (£468 million) in funding for state energy projects that aim to improve the regional power grid and make it more resilient.
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The science behind Hurricane Milton
The devastating hurricanes have become a political campaign issue for both parties with less than four weeks until the hotly contested US election.
Donald Trump claimed that the Biden administration failed to respond to Hurricane Helene, while President Biden and Kamala Harris criticized Trump for spreading disinformation.
Property damaged after Hurricane Milton hit St. Lucie County, Florida. Photo: Reuters
Meteorologists are reportedly facing death threats after misinformation about Hurricane Milton spread online.
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Some, including Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, spread lies suggesting that meteorologists and those in power could control hurricanes and intentionally created Milton.
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“Murdering meteorologists won't stop hurricanes. I can't believe I just had to write this,” meteorologist Katie Nickolaou wrote on X after someone used her social media page to call for the death of meteorologists.
Donald Trump told his supporters at a rally that Democrats stole hurricane relief funds “so they can give it to their illegal immigrants.”
