As the 2024 election campaign approaches its climax, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris assessed the flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene in several southern states. Both leaders pledged that the federal government will remain engaged until the affected communities have fully recovered.

Biden stopped in Greenville, South Carolina, where he took an aerial tour of the destruction near Asheville, North Carolina. He also received an emergency briefing in Raleigh. Meanwhile, Harris visited Augusta, Georgia, to discuss federal aid for emergency services and recovery initiatives.

“I’m here to express my gratitude and to listen,” said Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate for 2024, while addressing local officials and emergency responders at the Augusta Emergency Operations Center.

The paths of the President and Vice President did not intersect, as Biden focused on North Carolina while Harris was in the crucial swing state of Georgia, just 34 days ahead of the election.

The Southeast has suffered a tragic death toll, reaching at least 162 on Wednesday, with expectations it could increase. Buncombe County, home to Asheville, has reported 57 fatalities. The hurricane’s impact has intertwined with the 2024 electoral context, with the efficiency and disputes regarding federal aid potentially influencing voter sentiments in Georgia and North Carolina.

Republican candidate Donald Trump, who visited Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday, has aimed to leverage the Biden administration’s response to the hurricane in his campaign. He criticized Biden for being at his beach house and Harris for attending a fundraiser during the flooding, alleging that Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp was unable to contact Biden about emergency assistance.

Officials from the Biden administration clarified that both leaders had been kept informed about the disaster and supervised their response efforts from outside Washington. They also pointed out that Biden and Kemp had indeed communicated, contrary to Trump’s claims that they hadn’t connected.

During her visit, Harris comforted residents in an Augusta neighborhood where fallen trees and debris were scattered across the streets.

“This community is dealing with immense loss—loss of life, routine, and vital resources,” Harris remarked. “I’m here to express my gratitude to everyone working tirelessly to provide the relief and support that is urgently needed.”

Harris promised enduring coordination from the federal level to assist families, residents, and communities in getting “back on their feet.”

“We are committed to being here for the long haul,” she declared.

Biden Conducts Aerial Assessment of Hard-Hit Asheville

Biden surveyed the extensive storm damage in Asheville aboard Marine One, flying low to gain a clear view. He witnessed flattened buildings, gutted homes, and toppled trees near the city’s downtown area. The tour also included sites in Biltmore village, the River Arts district, eastern Asheville, and areas like Swannanoa and Black Mountain.

“I’m here to assure you that the United States stands behind you. We won’t leave until you are completely back on your feet,” Biden declared during an emergency command briefing in Raleigh, accompanied by North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

Biden granted Governor Cooper’s request for full federal funding to address costs related to debris removal and emergency protective actions for a period of six months. A parallel request from Georgia for total federal reimbursement for emergency supplies was also approved.

The President further announced the deployment of about 1,000 active-duty military personnel to support the North Carolina National Guard in delivering food, water, and medical supplies to isolated areas.

“In times like these, we set politics aside—at least that’s how it should be,” Biden expressed.

“There are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans. Our mission is to assist as many individuals as possible, swiftly and thoroughly.”

Biden Set to Visit Georgia and Florida on Thursday

When asked why Biden and Harris are traveling separately, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained, “This strategy allows us to address multiple areas simultaneously.”

Since gaining the Democratic nomination, Harris has participated in only one joint event with Biden, who has faced consistently low approval ratings during his presidency. The two have not appeared together in any of the closely contested southern swing states: North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.

In the upcoming days, Harris will be visiting North Carolina to assess the impact of flooding, while Biden’s agenda for Thursday includes trips to Georgia and Florida without the vice president.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who accompanied the president on Wednesday, reported that over 4,800 federal employees have been mobilized for the disaster response, including more than 1,000 from FEMA. The agency has provided over 8.8 million meals, 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators, and over 225,000 tarps to the affected Southeast region.

Mayorkas stated that search and rescue teams have carried out nearly 1,500 structural assessments and have successfully performed hundreds of rescues and evacuations.

A ‘Multi-Billion-Dollar’ Recovery Initiative

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is currently in western North Carolina, which suffered significant flooding, especially in Asheville. Officials from the Biden administration are preparing for an extensive and expensive recovery process that may extend over several years.

“This will require a multi-billion-dollar investment over several years,” Mayorkas stated. “Some towns have literally vanished.”

Earlier this week, Biden indicated his intention to request Congress to approve a supplemental spending plan to support federal disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene. A group of bipartisan senators from the hardest-hit states urged their peers on Tuesday to pass additional resource legislation and suggested the possibility of an emergency session before Election Day.

In North Carolina, FEMA has received over 30,000 disaster relief applications from individuals, distributing more than $2.6 million to those affected so far. Sixty-two percent of reported power outages following the flooding have been restored, with 8,000 crews actively working on power restoration, according to the White House.

The federal government has also installed 50 Starlink satellite receivers in western North Carolina to improve internet access.