US President Joe Biden ordered this Sunday the sending of another 500 soldiers to western North Carolina to work on recovery efforts from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene.
Through a statement, Biden reported that the troops join the 1,000 that were sent to the area this week, in response to the request of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.
In addition to the 1,500 soldiers, there are more than 6,100 National Guard members and more than 7,000 federal personnel in the area.
“My administration spares no resources to support families as they begin their path to reconstruction,” the president said.
Biden explained that he is being informed about Milton, the tropical storm that has already become a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to impact Florida this week.
“I urge all Florida residents to listen to local officials and make the necessary preparations,” said the president, who highlighted his administration’s work “to preposition life-saving resources before the storm.”
In a statement, the White House reported that federal assistance for survivors of Hurricane Helene now exceeds $137 million, in “one of the largest mobilizations of federal personnel, partners and resources in recent history.”
Helene entered northwest Florida on September 26 as a category 4 hurricane and left a trail of more than 800 kilometers of devastation across states in the southeastern United States, with special intensity in North Carolina.
It also left at least 230 dead and dozens missing, becoming the deadliest hurricane in the US since Katrina in 2005.
To date, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has sent more than 14.9 million meals, more than 13.9 million liters of water, 157 generators and more than 505,000 tarps to the region, he noted.
Those affected by the disaster in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA, the White House said.
People who have suffered damage to their homes or personal property and live in the designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include advance funds to help with essential items such as food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies.
Funds are also available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property. According to FEMA, there are more than 800 people who cannot return to their homes who are staying in shelters.
As of today, more than 86% of power outages have been restored and work is underway to restore mobile phone coverage, with 80% coverage recovered.
Helene has not only left a wave of destruction but has also entered the electoral campaign, with one month left before the presidential elections on November 5.
The catastrophe has served the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), to unleash a wave of hoaxes about the government’s response to the tragedy.
In several of his events and interviews this week, Trump even pointed out that the federal government is not helping those affected by Helene because it has spent its funds on helping migrants arriving in the United States. He said, for example, that FEMA is only offering $750 to Americans who have seen their homes destroyed.
FEMA explained this week that this is only the immediate and advance help that survivors can receive to cover basic and urgent needs such as food and water.
Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris visited North Carolina on Saturday to assess the damage from the hurricane and highlighted the “extraordinary work” that FEMA has done on the ground.
