Biden and Harris Assess Damage from Hurricane Helene

AFP/APP

Asheville: US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris toured areas devastated by Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, witnessing the catastrophic destruction caused by the storm.

Their visit came as thousands of responders worked tirelessly to rescue residents and assist millions affected by the disaster.

Biden arrived in South Carolina, where he met with officials who briefed him on the extensive rescue and recovery efforts involving over 10,000 federal officials, emergency responders, and National Guard members deployed across the southeastern United States.

The hurricane has left at least 159 people dead across six states.

Following his meetings, Biden flew by helicopter over Asheville, North Carolina, revealing staggering destruction, including collapsed bridges, debris-filled lakes, demolished buildings, and washed-away roads.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who accompanied the president, described Hurricane Helene as a storm of “historic strength” that resulted in calamitous flooding in both urban and remote mountain communities.

“We have towns that have disappeared, literally,” he stated, emphasizing that the recovery effort would be a multi-billion-dollar and multi-year endeavor.