October 11th 2024.
President Joe Biden stood in front of a room full of reporters at the White House in Washington, DC, providing an update on the recovery efforts for Hurricane Milton. He began by addressing the staggering amount of damage the hurricane caused, stating that it is estimated to have cost Florida a whopping $50 billion.
"As experts have projected, the damages from Hurricane Milton are around $50 billion," Biden explained to the reporters on Friday afternoon. He went on to assure the public that his administration is fully committed to providing all necessary resources to local and state officials who have been in constant communication with them.
Biden also took a moment to express his gratitude to the first responders, volunteers, and workers who have been tirelessly working to restore power and aid in the recovery efforts in the affected regions. The aftermath of the hurricane was evident in the toppling of palm trees along the roads in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, where Milton had made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday night.
The president had previously promised that the federal government would provide financial support to Florida for the rebuilding process. However, the actual damage turned out to far surpass his earlier estimate. "It's going to take several billion dollars," Biden admitted on Thursday.
During his update, Biden also touched upon the issue of online misinformation that has been circulating and causing confusion among the public in the wake of two strong storms hitting the US. "It's not just a small matter," he stated. "But we are taking immediate action to ensure that people have the necessary emergency relief they need."
As of Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had already used almost half of its $20 billion disaster budget. In response, Biden urged Congress to reconvene in Washington, DC, and approve additional funding for FEMA to continue aiding in the recovery efforts. The president emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to help those affected by Hurricane Milton.
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