President Joe Biden is making the first of two trips out of town to see storm-ravaged American communities as he visits Puerto Rico Monday in a rush to respond to massive storms that have battered the U.S. territory and Florida.
The President, who is leaving Washington on Monday morning, will announce new mainland aid for storm shelters after Hurricane Fiona hit the island last month, while showing sympathy for storm victims on US territory.
On Wednesday, he travels to Florida, where officials are still measuring the massive impact of Hurricane Ian, with the death toll already rising to 87.
“I’m going to Puerto Rico because they weren’t looked after very well,” Biden said as he exited the White House to begin his trip.
“I’m going to Puerto Rico because they haven’t been taken care of very well,” President Joe Biden said as he set out to visit the island to see the damage from Hurricane Fiona. He is accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden (back right)
He will be joined on the trip by First Lady Jill Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
“Our hearts, to state the obvious — it can’t be taken for granted — are heavy from the devastating hurricane and storms in Puerto Rico, Florida and South Carolina,” Biden said Saturday in DC at an event for the Congressional Black Caucus.
“We owe Puerto Rico a hell of a lot more than they’ve already received,” he said.
A flooded street is seen after the passage of Hurricane Fiona in Salinas, Puerto Rico, September 19, 2022. President Joe Biden is visiting the island Monday and plans to visit Florida on Wednesday to see the storm damage from Hurricane Ian
He plans to announce $60 million in aid, drawn from the infrastructure bill already enacted, to “prop up levees, strengthen flood walls and create a new flood warning system to help Puerto Rico be better prepared for future storms.” , Portal reported .
The funds are a fraction of what lawmakers will seek for a sweeping emergency relief package, with Florida driving the push for relief.
Fiona has cut power to much of the island. Power has been restored to 90 percent of the island, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
That leaves about 137,000 without electricity on an island with 1.5 million customers and 3.2 million inhabitants.
Biden will continue his twin journeys by viewing the devastation on Florida’s west coast
Ian devastated Fort Myers. The devastation has prompted a review of county officials’ decision to delay the evacuation by a day
“We owe Puerto Rico a hell of a lot more than they’ve already received,” President Biden said Saturday
The storm has put Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ability to work together during the recovery period into focus
Former President Donald Trump famously threw paper towel rolls into a crowd in San Juan during his 2017 visit after Hurricane Maria devastated the island’s infrastructure
Biden also has plans to visit Florida on Wednesday
“We see what you’re going through and we’re with you,” Biden said.
The last US President to visit the island was Donald Trump, who clashed with democratically elected officials on the island and threw paper towel rolls into a crowd in San Juan during a visit in 2017 after Hurricane Maria hit the island.
Florida GOP Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott both took to the airwaves on Sunday to urge funding, though Rubio was forced to defend his vote against emergency funding to respond to Hurricane Sandy when he New York and parts of the Northeast devastated.
On Sunday, Florida Senator Marco Rubio spoke of the massive devastation in Fort Myers and appeared on ABC’s This Week.
“I don’t think there’s a comparison, not in Florida,” he said.
“Fort Myers Beach doesn’t exist anymore,” said Rubio, who has served as a Sunshine State Senator since 2011. “It needs to be rebuilt,” he continued. “It will be something different. It was a piece of old Florida that cannot be reclaimed.”