Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell surveyed damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Florida, assessing the state’s need for federal resources in response to the storm, according to The White House on Saturday.
Criswell said FEMA would support affected communities in a post on the social platform X on Saturday evening.
“Today I joined @GovRonDeSantis & emergency response partners in Florida to assess the damages from #Helene. As I told the Governor, @FEMA will be here to support these affected communities for as long as it takes to help them recover from this devastating hurricane,” she wrote in the post.
As of Saturday, Hurricane Helene has killed at least 56 people and left millions without power, The Associated Press reported.
The Biden-Harris administration approved emergency declarations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, which allows federal resources to begin flowing quickly.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast,” Biden wrote in a statement. “As the storm continues to track north, Vice President Harris and I remain focused on life-saving and life-sustaining response and recovery efforts.”
Efforts include support from more than 2,300 federal personnel and voluntary agencies, the release said. More than 800 FEMA personnel have also been sent to assist with determining the damage from the storm and subsequent response efforts.
The release also notes that FEMA sent Urban Search and Rescue teams with more than 1,270 personnel to states impacted by the hurricane.
Vice President Harris also expressed her commitment to recovery efforts on Saturday, saying her “heart goes out to everyone impacted by the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene.”
“President Biden and I remain committed to ensuring that no community or state has to respond to this disaster alone. Federal personnel are on the ground to support families that have been impacted so that critical resources like food, water, and generators are available,” she wrote in a statement.
