Biden, Harris Survey Hurricane Helene Devastation in Southeast \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Biden and Vice President Harris separately surveyed the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, visiting North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Both leaders praised first responders and addressed challenges in delivering aid due to ongoing strikes. Their visits emphasized a commitment to relief efforts amidst political tensions with Donald Trump.
Biden and Harris Survey Hurricane Helene Destruction: Quick Looks
- Separate Visits to Storm-Hit Areas: President Biden and Vice President Harris visited different regions affected by Hurricane Helene to assess the destruction and meet with victims.
- Biden Flies Over Asheville Damage: Biden flew over Asheville, North Carolina, viewing flood-damaged homes, uprooted trees, and debris as he pledged federal support.
- Harris Visits Augusta: Harris visited Augusta, Georgia, witnessing downed trees and blocked highways, highlighting the importance of coordinated disaster response.
- Political Test Amid Crisis: Harris faces a political test, aiming to show empathy and competence while positioning herself as a presidential candidate against Trump.
- Federal Response Underway: Biden announced the deployment of 1,000 soldiers to assist with food and supply distribution, emphasizing the need for quick recovery efforts.
Deep Look
Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden split their time between different regions affected by Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, aiming to meet the needs of storm-ravaged communities across the Southeast. Harris praised the rescue workers for their tireless efforts, recognizing those “who must be seen, who must be heard,” as she visited Augusta, Georgia. Meanwhile, Biden surveyed some of the hardest-hit areas in North Carolina, including the tourist-friendly downtown of Asheville, which now lies in ruins.
Biden flew over scenes of devastation marked by toppled trees, piles of debris, and twisted metal during his aerial tour in North Carolina. Nearly 200 miles south, Harris drove through areas where trees were snapped like matchsticks, lining the highways. Speaking to emergency workers in Augusta, Harris reflected on their perseverance. “I’ve been reading and hearing about the work you’ve been doing over the last few days, and I think it really does represent some of the best of what we each know can be done,” she said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between local, state, and federal resources. Harris added, “I am now listening.”
Large sections of North Carolina remained inaccessible, with highways blocked and basic infrastructure severely damaged. Biden’s aerial view from Marine One showcased flooded roads, shredded piles of lumber, and displaced sandbags. He also spotted emergency vehicles working around downed powerlines, struggling to reach affected residents. In some areas, homes were still partly underwater, with lake and land blending indistinguishably.
For Biden, this was a familiar role—providing comfort and federal aid in the wake of natural disasters. He has frequently stepped in as consoler-in-chief after tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes, most recently in Maui after devastating wildfires. For Harris, however, this visit represented a significant opportunity to showcase her empathy and competence, critical elements for someone seeking to succeed Biden in the Oval Office. Both leaders aimed to demonstrate their responsiveness after former President Donald Trump’s false claims about their administration’s handling of the hurricane response.
During his visit to Asheville, Biden wore a vest and boots as he walked with Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, meeting her at Greenville, South Carolina’s airport. He hugged the mayor before they began discussions about the region’s immediate needs. Notably, the White House reported that Harris had also spoken with Manheimer and was planning to visit North Carolina soon. Biden was also set to visit parts of Florida and Georgia affected by the storm on Thursday.
Manheimer, the Asheville mayor, noted logistical limitations in accommodating Biden’s visit. “We couldn’t shut down the area’s only operable road for a presidential motorcade,” she explained. Biden’s visit to the region was a balancing act of showing empathy without creating more disruption for affected residents.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris was tackling her own political challenge. Unlike Biden, she had fewer opportunities to visit disaster-stricken areas in her capacity as vice president, making this visit an important step in establishing her leadership credentials. Harris last visited such scenes as a California senator, when she traveled to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and walked through the charred wreckage of Paradise, California, after the Camp Fire in 2018. Harris used her legal background as a prosecutor to emphasize her empathy and understanding, leveraging her past experience connecting with victims during times of crisis.
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris’ campaign manager and former Senate office state director, described the trip as a critical opportunity for Harris to demonstrate her leadership skills in a time of crisis. Rodriguez emphasized that Harris aimed to “show her ability to get things done,” contrasting her response with the Republican ticket led by Donald Trump and JD Vance, who have spoken of dismantling certain government services.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Trump had already made his move, traveling to Valdosta, Georgia, earlier in the week. He visited with a Christian charity organization, distributing supplies such as fuel, food, and water. In true Trump fashion, he also accused Biden of being “asleep” and unresponsive to calls for help from Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp. However, this claim was quickly discredited when Governor Kemp confirmed he had spoken with Biden the day before, receiving all necessary assistance from the federal government.
Biden was visibly frustrated with Trump’s baseless accusations, saying, “Trump was lying, and the governor told him he was lying.” Trump’s accusations harkened back to his own questionable record on disaster relief, including his criticized response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. During a visit to Puerto Rico, Trump famously tossed paper towels to survivors, a gesture widely condemned as insensitive. He also questioned the official death toll from the storm, which later reached around 3,000, accusing officials of artificially inflating the numbers. Harris, in 2018, had tweeted about the government’s failures during Hurricane Maria, stating that the government “failed Puerto Rico at every level.”
Biden and Harris are keenly aware of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the political stakes involved. Before departing Washington, Biden mentioned how the dockworkers’ strike was complicating supply deliveries to areas in urgent need of assistance. “Natural disasters are incredibly consequential,” Biden said. “The last thing we need on top of that is a man-made disaster—what’s going on at the ports.” Biden’s administration has mobilized 1,000 active-duty soldiers, deploying them from an Infantry Battalion Task Force based in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to help distribute supplies.
The hurricane has left at least 178 dead, and power outages are still affecting several areas. Many highways and roads remain impassable, and thousands of residents are relying on emergency workers for food, water, and medical assistance. Biden is scheduled to receive a more detailed briefing in Raleigh, North Carolina, after his aerial tour of Asheville, as the government scrambles to provide additional aid.
Vice President Harris’ response has also been viewed as a test of her ability to empathize with disaster victims, a role Biden is renowned for. Harris’ trip aimed to provide support and show her dedication to those affected by the hurricane, further positioning herself as a capable leader in the face of tragedy.
Trump, however, has continued to criticize Democratic leaders, falsely accusing them of withholding aid from Republican areas—a tactic he himself used when in office. His approach during past natural disasters, including threats to withhold wildfire assistance from California, stands in stark contrast to Biden’s and Harris’ hands-on response.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene serves as a stark reminder of the critical role government leaders play during times of crisis, and the sharp political contrasts between Biden, Harris, and their main rival, Donald Trump. As Harris noted, these are moments that “require partnership” and genuine leadership—qualities she is keen to demonstrate on the campaign trail.
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