Biden says he’s in ‘constant contact’ with DeSantis as Hurricane Idalia approaches

President Biden on Tuesday said his administration has been in “constant contact” with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as the state braces for Hurricane Idalia to make landfall.

Biden elaborated on his call a day earlier with DeSantis during an Oval Office meeting with the Costa Rican president.

“We’re providing everything he could possibly need. We’re in constant contact,” Biden told reporters.

“We’re worried about the surge, the ocean surge. We don’t know exactly — hour to hour, we’re watching this,” he continued. “But I told the governor, and the mayor of the region that’s likely to be hit first, that we’re there as long as it takes, and we’ll make sure they have everything they need.”

Idalia strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday, bringing 100 mph winds and potentially devastating rains and storm surges. The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, and it could impact parts of Georgia and South Carolina as it makes its way up the coast.

Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida in anticipation of the storm, freeing up additional federal resources for the state to respond to it. FEMA has also deployed personnel and resources to the state, the White House said in a readout of the call.

Evacuation notices have been issued for 21 counties in Florida, eight of them mandatory. According to the Hurricane Center, some storm surges could reach up to 15 feet. 

DeSantis is one of Biden’s top political rivals, and the Florida governor is seeking the GOP presidential nomination.

The Florida governor has repeatedly excoriated the president’s policies on the campaign trail. During last week’s GOP primary debate, DeSantis took aim frequently at the White House and bemoaned that the country was in “decline” under Biden’s leadership.

But the two have set aside politics in the past, with Biden visiting Florida after a building collapse in 2021 and again meeting with DeSantis and state officials to tour storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian last year.