President Joe Biden appeared confused when asked about ongoing aid efforts for states affected by a devastating hurricane, following his visit to North Carolina on Thursday.
Biden had just returned from surveying the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, which left the city of Asheville and surrounding communities reeling from severe flooding and mudslides. The storm has wreaked havoc across the region, with entire neighborhoods submerged and significant loss of life.
A reporter inquired, “What do the states in the storm zone need, Mr. President?”
Biden initially responded with, “Eh?” prompting the reporter to repeat the question: “What do the states in the storm zone need after what you saw today?”
Unsure at first, Biden replied, “Oh, in the storm zone. I’m wondering what storm you’re talking about. They’re getting everything they need, and they’re very happy across the board.”
The hurricane, which made landfall in Florida a week ago, has claimed the lives of at least 245 people, with hundreds (and possibly more) still missing. In Asheville, homes and vehicles remain submerged, and debris continues to block access to many areas.
The initial response of the federal government has been widely criticized as slow, at best.
Heart-wrenching stories have emerged, including the tragic death of a couple in their seventies and their six-year-old grandson, who drowned when their roof collapsed. The child’s mother survived, miraculously trapped between nearby debris.
On Thursday, Biden revealed that the North Carolina National Guard would partner with up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to deliver food, water and essential supplies to communities cut off by the storm. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has enough funding to meet immediate needs but warned that funds could run out before the end of hurricane season. FEMA has already requested additional funds from Congress to avoid future shortfalls.
Criticism of the administration’s response has emerged, with opponents pointing to FEMA’s allocation of $1.4 billion over the past two years for housing illegal migrants as a potential strain on resources meant for disaster relief.
Despite the ongoing efforts, the road to recovery remains long for those hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.
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This is truly a disgrace that American citizens are being left to starve, without water or care. Thank Heaven for private citizens who are trying to help relieve the suffering of these poor wretches. These reports need to be circulated throughout this nation before the upcoming election. Just another example of the incompetence of the current administration; let us remember on November 5, who was the second in command.
Mind B Gone
“Very happy across the board.” Tell that to the people who lost their lives or their families.
The government is on REMOTE CONTROL the appointed talking heads are not the real leaders! Obviously the reason they are sabotaging Trump at every turn and not properly securing his person, while inciting REAL insurrection as Pelosi/ Deep State generated J6 insurrection. That is the visual I get. A central command controlling everything down to every aspect of individual lives? The supposed POTUS, who cannot speak unless spoken to? The VP who does the scratch in the record REPEAT because the pre programed (by central) teleprompter froze and she has NO CLUE?
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE COMMUNIST TOTALITARIANISM TO YOU? ISN’T ELIMINATING TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT WHAT AMERICA WAS ABOUT? WASN’T THE FREEDOM AND CONSTITUTION WHAT DROVE LEGAL MIGRANTS TO THIS LAND? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO RETURN TO PRE 1776?
VOTE FROM FREEDOM VOTE TRUMP/VANCE