President Donald Trump is set to visit Valdosta, Georgia, a city ravaged by the fury of Hurricane Helene, to assess the damage and facilitate the distribution of relief supplies.
According to a press release from the Trump campaign, the President will receive a briefing on the devastation caused by the hurricane and deliver remarks to the press on Monday. This visit comes as the city grapples with the aftermath of the disaster, which has claimed three lives and left many more injured, according to Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson.
Matheson revealed to WALB that the city has sustained significant damage, with many roofs and houses penetrated by trees. The extent of the destruction is evident in video footage posted by Billy Heath, a photojournalist with Fox5 Atlanta, which shows historic buildings in downtown Valdosta severely damaged.
As Trump prepares to visit Valdosta, neighboring communities in western North Carolina are also struggling to cope with the aftermath of the hurricane. The city of Asheville has been particularly hard hit, with widespread flooding and devastation reported.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there were still 300 road incidents remaining as of Sunday morning, including over 50 on main roads. The full extent of the damage is evident in video footage posted on X, which shows buildings, homes, and vehicles underwater, and roads and bridges washed away.
In a display of kindness, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his wife Suzanne were seen distributing sandwiches to first responders and residents of Darrow, Virginia, who were affected by the hurricane.
