Biden surveys Hurricane Milton destruction in Florida, pledges support
Al Jazeera
US president says, ‘We’re doing everything we can’ as Florida residents assess damage from back-to-back hurricanes.
United States President Joe Biden has promised to provide continued support to Florida communities affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene as he surveyed storm-related destruction in the southeastern US state.
During a news conference on Sunday, Biden said people had “lost family members [and] lost all their personal belongings” after the storms pummelled Florida over the past few weeks.
“Entire neighbourhoods were flooded and millions – millions – were without power,” he told reporters in St Pete Beach, a resort city on a barrier island just west of St Petersburg, on Florida’s west coast.
“Homeowners have taken a real beating in back-to-back storms and they’re heartbroken and exhausted, and their expenses are piling up,” Biden said.
While Hurricane Milton was not as catastrophic as initially predicted, the storm lashed Florida with torrential rain and dangerous winds last week, killing at least 18 people and destroying more than 100 buildings.
