American President Joe Biden, during a recent visit to Florida, connected with hurricane survivors by sharing a personal story of loss. He recalled the time his home was struck by lightning years ago. As he considered the experience, Biden said that he knew "how devastating it is to lose your home." He talked of losing priceless things that had great sentimental worth, such as drawings made by his daughter and family portraits. "The most painful thing is losing wedding rings, old pictures, and mementos," he remarked.
🔥🚨DEVELOPING: Joe Biden told hurricane victims that he knows how they feel because lightning struck his house once. pic.twitter.com/zhWBu70Lvs
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 13, 2024
As the second significant hurricane to batter Florida in recent weeks, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday night. Biden took a tour of the devastation it left behind. After surveying the affected areas from the air, the president touched down in St. Petersburg and spoke with locals. Hurricane Milton claimed 17 lives, coming in just after Hurricane Helene, which had killed 236 people in six states, including Florida. There have been reports of losses totaling millions of dollars, and in many places, it is still difficult to get basic supplies like fuel and power.
The National Weather Service issues a warning about possible more flooding due to the rising rivers in the Tampa Bay area and the vicinity of Orlando. In order to support recovery efforts, Biden urged Congress to approve additional immediate disaster funding. He has been pressing House Speaker Mike Johnson to approve the financing as soon as possible in order to avoid the November 5 election. But Johnson has said that the matter won't be discussed until after the election.
During his visit, Biden also announced that $612 million in federal financing will be provided to state energy projects in Florida with the goal of fortifying the state's electrical infrastructure against potential natural catastrophes. Weeks before the election, the disasters have become a significant campaign topic. In reaction to Hurricane Helene, the Biden administration received criticism from former President Donald Trump, while Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris charged Trump with disseminating false information.
Threats against meteorologists with fatalities have even resulted from false information on Hurricane Milton. Meteorologist Katie Nickolaou posted on social media, “Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes,” responding to online threats and misinformation propagated by public figures, including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who falsely claimed hurricanes were being intentionally created.
At a rally, Trump alleged that Democrats diverted hurricane relief funds to support “illegal immigrants,” further fueling political tensions. As Biden continues to press for increased aid, he emphasized the need for long-term solutions, ensuring communities are better prepared and protected from future storms.