A defensive President Biden on Thursday disputed criticism that his administration was caught off-guard by Hurricane Helene, insisting that he had a plan in place even before the deadly storm made landfall.
“Days before the storm hit, I pre-positioned extensive resources on the ground throughout the Southeast, extensively — first responders, search and rescue teams, food, water, ambulances — before Helene made landfall,” Mr. Biden said after touring the damage in Ray City, Georgia.
He said he approved disaster relief funding before the storm hit, unlocking federal aid for the states impacted by the storm, which includes Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
The president’s defiant response comes after critics in some of the states affected say the administration slow-walked its response to regions devastated by the storm.
North Carolina state Rep. Donnie Loftis told The Washington Times that he hasn’t seen any federal authorities in his town of Hendersonville, which has been devastated by the storm.
Mr. Biden suggested that those criticizing the storm’s response are playing politics, with the presidential election just a few weeks away.
SEE ALSO: Hurricane Helene survivors still waiting to see FEMA in hard-hit North Carolina
Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump accused the Biden administration of “going out of their way” not to help people in Republican areas.
Mr. Biden on Thursday said that simply wasn’t true.
“Our job is to help as many people as we can and also, by the way, when you do that, you break down this rabid partisanship that exists,” he said. “There’s no rationale for it.”
Mr. Biden said when there is a bad storm like Helene, there are no Democrats or Republicans, “only Americans.”
The president traveled to Florida and Georgia where he spoke with hurricane survivors and first responders, as well as surveyed the damage in Ray City and Keaton Beach. He walked among mountains of downed trees, demolished homes and debris scattered across streets.
Mr. Biden talked with people who had lost homes, including a couple that was living out of a trailer near the wreckage of their home.
SEE ALSO: Harris camp fires back at accusations of withholding Helene aid for political reasons
Later in Georgia, the president spoke with Buck Paulk, who owns a farm that was destroyed by Helene. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Paulk said he’s “disheartened” his farm won’t be able to snap back, saying it will take generations to get it back to what it once was.
“We don’t look to get handouts…but we do need the help,” Mr. Paulk told the crowd after offering up a prayer.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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