Biden to tour hurricane damage in Florida and Georgia on Thursday

by Brett Samuels - 10/02/24 2:01 PM ET

President Biden will travel Thursday to Florida and Georgia to view areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Biden’s trip will come one day after he tours storm damage in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the president’s trips were planned so that he could visit the impacted areas “without disrupting the emergency operations.”

“What he does not want to do is in any way impair or impede the rescue that we are providing,” Mayorkas told reporters aboard Air Force One.

It is unclear if Biden will meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) or Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R). Biden spoke with Kemp over the weekend to discuss the storm response.

Former President Trump visited Georgia on Monday to tour storm damage and swiped at Biden during his visit, falsely claiming Kemp had been unable to reach the president.

Hurricane Helene tore through Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, leaving millions without power and destroying homes. At least 166 people have been killed in the storm, and hundreds are still unaccounted for.

Biden announced Wednesday he had directed the Defense Department to send up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to disaster areas impacted by Hurricane Helene to help with the distribution of food, water and other supplies.

Vice President Harris has also taken time away from the campaign trail to visit storm-torn areas.