During his visit to the disaster area in the southern United States, Joe Biden got a picture of the devastation. The US President assured those affected that the federal government would help.
“I know you are suffering,” said Joe Biden as he and local residents visited one of the areas in Louisiana hit hard by Hurricane Ida on Friday. He promised extensive financial aid from the state. He has already released 100 million US dollars (84 million euros), of which private individuals can receive 500 euros each as emergency aid.
US President Joe Biden brings solace to hurricane victims in the city of LaPlace
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At least 13 people were killed in the hurricane in Louisiana and the neighboring state of Mississippi. According to official figures, 800,000 households in the disaster region still have no electricity. The electricity suppliers announced that in the metropolis of New Orleans “in the middle of next week” all districts should have electricity again.
Across the state, 14,000 pylons of overhead power lines would have to be rebuilt and more than 2,200 destroyed transformers would have to be replaced. That will take time, although thousands of employees are on the job, the residents are asked to be patient.
Number five of the worst hurricanes
During the approach to New Orleans, the US President had already been able to get an impression of the enormous masses of water and the destruction that “Ida” had caused. According to meteorologists, it was the fifth strongest hurricane on record.
It hit the coast southwest of New Orleans as a force four (out of five) hurricane on Sunday and wreaked havoc. Then the storm weakened overland and moved on to the northeast. There were heavy rains and catastrophic floods in the metropolis of New York and in several states.
In the northeast of the USA, here in Newark, New Jersey, the aftermath of Hurricane “Ida” can still be seen
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Rain chaos in the northeast, forest fires in the west
At least 46 people died in the Northeast, including 23 in New Jersey, 16 in and around New York City, 5 in Pennsylvania, and one each in Connecticut and Maryland. In addition, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), at least eight tornadoes caused damage, mostly in New Jersey. On Tuesday, the President plans to visit Manville, New Jersey and the borough of Queens in New York to get an idea of the storm damage.
In the US state of California, west of the country, firefighters are still fighting devastating forest fires
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In California, in the western United States, violent forest fires continue to rage. “Hurricane Ida, the wildfires in the west and the unprecedented floods in New York and New Jersey in the past few days are another reminder that the climate crisis is here,” wrote Biden on Twitter, adding: “We need to be better prepared . “
The infrastructure must be adapted to the tougher conditions. The US President called on Congress to pass appropriate laws. Biden has made the fight against climate change one of his most important goals.
mak/ml (rtr, ape, dpa)
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