DeSantis on Helene recovery: 'We have what we need right now'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said that Florida has so far gotten the support that it needs from the federal government after Hurricane Helene tore through the state just days ago, and that President Joe Biden should not plan a visit to the state to help with the recovery.

DeSantis said during a news conference Monday morning in hurricane-ravaged Steinhatchee that he would rather see Biden go to North Carolina, where parts of the state have been ravaged by the storm. Helene’s heavy rainfall and powerful winds left at least 100 people dead across several states, hundreds missing and washed out dozens of crucial roadways — particularly in North Carolina, with some areas only accessible by air.

“We have what we need now,” DeSantis said. “I think most of the effort should be in Western North Carolina right now because you still have active rescues that need to take place.”

Biden approved Florida's major disaster declaration on Saturday, opening billions in federal disaster aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for both the state and residents who were impacted by the Category 4 storm.

On Monday, Biden said Congress may need to come back to approve more disaster funding, and pledged to tour the impacted areas once his visit wouldn't be an impediment.

“I’m committed to traveling in impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told that it’d be disruptive if I did it right now," he said in Washington. "We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any, any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis. My first responsibility is to get all the help needed to those impacted areas.”

In Florida, DeSantis launched a program called Operation Blue Ridge, which will fly Florida residents who were left stranded in North Carolina by the hurricane to safety. Rescuers in Florida can use boats instead of vehicles to help residents, but the area of North Carolina that was hit by the storm is hundreds of miles away from any coastline.

“I just really think the federal government should focus on that,” DeSantis said.