President Joe Biden will visit Florida on Sunday to assess the damage from Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that compounded ongoing recovery efforts from recent Hurricane Helene.
President Joe Biden will travel to Florida on Sunday to assess the damage left by Hurricane Milton, the second major storm to strike the state in recent weeks.
The visit comes as Florida continues to grapple with extensive recovery efforts following back-to-back natural disasters. Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, made landfall in Sarasota County on Wednesday night, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding across central and northern Florida, leaving a trail of wrecked homes, downed power lines, and damaged infrastructure.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reported Thursday that the death toll stands at 10, though authorities caution that a full assessment of the storm’s impact could take days due to challenging access to some areas.
Milton’s arrival worsened the ongoing challenges from the earlier devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern United States last month, killing more than 230 people. Helene triggered widespread flooding across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, displacing thousands of residents and prompting a scramble for federal disaster aid.
During his visit, Biden is expected to meet with local officials and survey the areas most severely impacted by Milton, though it remains unclear whether he will meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis. The White House confirmed that the two have been in contact since Milton’s approach, with discussions centering on federal-state coordination for relief and recovery operations.
DeSantis has activated 4,000 National Guard members to assist with debris removal and aid distribution, and FEMA has deployed additional resources to support state efforts. The governor also reported on Friday morning that approximately 2.4 million Floridians are without power.