As Hurricane Helene’s aftermath continues to wreak havoc across the southeastern United States, President Joe Biden spent the weekend at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, despite the devastating flooding in Appalachian valleys in North Carolina and Tennessee.
The Category 4 storm made landfall in the Big Bend of Florida on Thursday, bringing torrential rains that have resulted in dozens of deaths across the region. As of Sunday morning, the death toll stood at over two dozen, but officials warn that the number is likely to rise.
Biden departed for Rehoboth Beach on Friday, a day after the hurricane’s initial landfall, and was initially expected to stay until late Sunday evening. However, he reportedly returned to Washington earlier than planned due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, floodwaters have isolated Asheville, North Carolina, from the outside world, with roads broken, power and cell service knocked out, and state officials scrambling to airlift supplies into the region. Local officials describe the flooding as “Biblical” and “catastrophic,” with the county manager calling it the “most significant natural disaster in our community.”
“We’re not just talking about catastrophic devastation within our county, we’re talking about Biblical devastation,” said Ryan Cole, assistant director for emergency services in Buncombe County. “We’ve had Biblical flooding here, and it’s been extremely significant.”
At least 10 deaths have been reported in North Carolina, while 17 have been reported in Georgia, including children. In eastern Tennessee, officials are bracing for the worst after several people went missing when floodwaters swept through mountain communities, collapsing bridges and destroying homes.
President Biden described the devastation as “overwhelming” and pledged to send help, but has not announced any plans to visit the affected areas despite the storm being the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit South Carolina since 1989. Vice President Kamala Harris said she and the President are working with local leaders to provide support, with over 1,000 federal personnel deployed to the region, including power restoration and search and rescue teams.
[…] Biden Stays at Beach as Southeast Reels from Hurricane Helene’s Devastation […]