U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about their relief efforts for people effected by Hurricane Idalia in Florida and other states, during a visit to the agency in Washington, U.S. August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden said he will visit Florida on Saturday to view damage from Hurricane Idalia after the storm pounded the state with high winds and flooding.
Idalia slammed into the Florida’s Big Bend area — where its northern Gulf Coast panhandle curves into the state’s peninsula — on Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 hurricane.
Biden, who gave remarks on Thursday during a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters, said he spoke to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday to offer federal help in the state’s recovery.
“This morning I spoke again – it seems like we, there should be a direct dial (between) the two of us – Governor DeSantis and I. We spoke again this morning, I let him know that I approved his major disaster declaration,” Biden said.
Idalia left toppled houses and destroyed vehicles in its wake, but overall the destruction was not as severe as feared. Electricity outages from fallen trees, utility poles and power lines were widespread.