On Saturday, President Biden spoke in front of an entire home that was destroyed by trees and debris, during his tour of the communities affected by Hurricane Idalia in Live Oak (Florida).
Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
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Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden speaks to the crowd in front of a house destroyed by trees and debris, during a Saturday tour of communities affected by Hurricane Idalia in Live Oak (Florida).
Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden saw the destruction caused by Hurricane Idalia as they visited the northern Florida town of Live Oak, on Saturday. The city of Live Oak, located just over an hour north of where Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Wednesday morning as a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 125 mph, was one the hardest-hit areas. After an aerial tour and a walking tour, and after meeting first responders, and people affected by the damage, Biden told reporters and a crowd of observers that the spirit in the community was “remarkable”. “
When people are really in trouble, the most important thing that you can give them to is hope,” said the president. There’s nothing like a neighbor coming across the street and asking what they can help you with, or a local pastor offering to come in and offer you assistance. It gives you hope. As the storm moved inland it left behind a trail of fallen trees, destroyed homes and buildings, and flooded fields. While the government has not yet released an initial cost of the damage caused by the storm, Moody’s estimates that Idalia will cost Florida and Georgia between $12 to $20 billion in damages.
While an initial cost of the damage wrought by the storm has yet to be released by the government, Moody’s estimates Idalia is going to cost Florida and Georgia between $12 to $20 billion in damage.
According to the state government, power restoration is ongoing with 90% of the power that was knocked out by Hurricane Idalia having been restored as of Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, agencies from all levels of government continue to work on recovery efforts. Biden assured the residents that federal assistance would not be going away.
“Now the storm has passed and you’re dealing with what’s in its wake … we’re here to help the state long as it takes,” he said.
As of Saturday, no storm-related deaths had been confirmed by Florida’s government.
Biden and the first lady were accompanied on their tour by Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, but did not meet with the state’s Republican Gov. Biden and the first lady were accompanied on their tour by Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, but did not meet with the state’s Republican Gov.