JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One of the most dangerous hurricanes to impact the state is expected to make landfall here Wednesday, and Gov. Ron DeSantis had no time for politics, rejecting a phone call from Vice President Kamala Harris as she scrambles to improve her image as a leader after the federal government’s much-criticized response to Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Milton is forecast to hit the west coast of Florida near Tampa, a low-lying region that is one of the most populated areas of the state. Ms. Harris called Mr. DeSantis this week as the Republican governor was marshaling massive resources in preparation for the second major hurricane to strike the state in two weeks.
With the election just four weeks away, the looming storm could provide Ms. Harris the kind of leadership moment similar to 2012, when President Obama showed up in New Jersey after a major storm devastated the state just days before the election. He was greeted on the tarmac by a friendly Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who gave Mr. Obama a fist bump and a welcoming reception. GOP critics said this hurt his opponent, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who was sidelined at the critical moment.
But there was no storm fist bump for Ms. Harris.
Mr. DeSantis didn’t take the call, depriving Ms. Harris of a photo-op or statement about her role in helping Florida prepare as she tries to show fickle voters in battleground states that she’s a capable leader.
Ms. Harris quickly criticized the governor, calling Mr. DeSantis’ refusal to talk to her “utterly irreconcilable,” “selfish” and “political gamesmanship.”
SEE ALSO: Millions in FEMA funds remain unused as Hurricane Milton looms
The move backfired on Ms. Harris. Even her boss, President Biden, refused to find fault with Mr. DeSantis.
Mr. Biden, who dropped his reelection bid in July, told reporters Tuesday he’s talked to Mr. DeSantis more than once since Helene struck. Mr. Biden said the governor is doing “a great job.” The president said Mr. DeSantis thanked him for it and Mr. Biden offered quick federal help if needed ahead of the new storm.
“I literally gave my personal phone number to call,” Mr. Biden said.
Preparation for Milton on the heels of Helene, which struck the state on Sept. 26, has showcased Mr. DeSantis’ skill at mobilizing emergency personnel and the National Guard, all while executing rapid recovery efforts after Helene.
It stands in stark contrast to parts of western North Carolina, where devastated towns washed out by Helene’s flooding are still awaiting help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Mr. DeSantis said he was puzzled by Ms. Harris’s accusations, telling Fox News he has worked smoothly with both the Trump and Biden administrations throughout several hurricanes while serving as governor and Ms. Harris has never been involved.
“I don’t have time for political games. I’ve got people whose lives are on the line. I’ve got people whose homes and their possessions are on the line, and we are focused 100% on that mission. I’m not worried about playing her political games. And so she is being selfish by trying to blunder into this when we’re working just fine,” Mr. DeSantis said.
He called Ms. Harris “delusional.”
Mr. DeSantis said the state would be ready for the second storm, a Category 5 as of Tuesday evening, and that he was not concerned about FEMA’s lack of resources following Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ warning that the agency is out of money for new disasters beyond Helene.
The statement provoked outrage by critics who pointed to the more than $1 billion FEMA has budgeted and spent on sheltering immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally and billions spent on helping Ukraine and other countries.
“I’m not sure how much of an effect it’s going to have on us because we are going to have a robust response,” Mr. DeSantis said of FEMA’s money and disaster response woes.
Mr. DeSantis this week organized a massive National Guard mobilization of more than 5,000 service members and marshaled thousands of emergency workers across state agencies in advance of the storm. An evacuation was underway Tuesday along parts of the state’s west coast as Mr. DeSantis and other government leaders urged residents to get out while they can.
“Fortunately for Florida, we have a machine,” Mr. DeSantis said, speaking to reporters in Ocala. “This is something that we work on. We know we’ve got to deal with it being a tropical state. And we do.”
In western North Carolina, residents are beginning to receive more state aid and help from volunteers and other nonprofit groups, but FEMA is still falling short, Sen. Ted Budd told The Washington Times.
“Every North Carolinian I’ve talked to has been frustrated by the government’s response — it’s lack of speed, lack of coordination, and misplaced priorities,” Mr. Budd said. “While folks are grateful for the resources we have now, there is no question that the federal government was flat-footed in its response to this disaster. It was the private citizens, volunteer organizations, and local governments who stepped up and showed the leadership North Carolina needed. And we’re not going to let up. Western North Carolina must receive every resource necessary to recover and rebuild over the months and years ahead.”
The agency is accused of turning away volunteers and confiscating the resources they are bringing to the area for desperate residents.
FEMA has called the accusations, including complaints about spending on immigrants without documentation, a form of misinformation.
“It’s frankly ridiculous and just plain false. This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people,” FEMA Director Deanne Criswell told The Associated Press.
According to FEMA’s website, the agency “does not accept cash donations or volunteers.”
On Saturday, Ms. Harris was criticized after posting on X that the government would send $157 million to Lebanon following Israeli missile strikes targeting terrorist leaders there. Critics were quick to point out her offer of $750 for flood victims, although much more federal aid will eventually pour in.
“Kamala is touting giving money to the people of Lebanon while stiff-arming the humanitarian crisis in North Carolina,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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