Vice President Harris will cut short her West Coast campaign swing to travel to Washington, DC on Monday morning for a briefing at FEMA Headquarters on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene. The decision to adjust her schedule comes as the Southeast region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating hurricane.
Upon her arrival in Washington, DC, Vice President Harris is expected to be briefed on the federal actions being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The storm made landfall last Thursday as the strongest hurricane on record to hit Florida’s Big Bend region, resulting in at least 95 fatalities, widespread power outages, and severe flooding in multiple states.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Harris for fundraising on the West Coast while the Southeast region was reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene. In response, Harris redirected her plans and prioritized her briefing at FEMA Headquarters to stay informed and engaged in the ongoing recovery efforts.
During her travel from California to Nevada, Vice President Harris was briefed by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and also had discussions with North Carolina Governor Cooper, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Georgia Governor Kemp. She reassured them of the Biden Administration's commitment to supporting the affected communities throughout their recovery process.
While addressing a rally in Las Vegas, Harris emphasized the administration's dedication to standing with the impacted communities for as long as necessary to facilitate their recovery and rebuilding efforts. She pledged to provide whatever assistance is needed in the coming days and weeks to aid in the recovery process.
Meanwhile, former President Trump is scheduled to visit Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday to receive a briefing on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and assist in the distribution of relief supplies to the affected areas.
