Destruction in the USA: Biden and Harris promise help for storm victims

“Helene” claims at least 189 lives and destroys communities and entire livelihoods. Several US states are affected. President Biden and Vice Harris are traveling in the region.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris personally got an idea of ​​the situation in the disaster areas after the devastating storm “Helene” with many deaths. Biden first visited Greenville, North Carolina, and then traveled to the city of Raleigh, South Carolina. “I toured western North Carolina from the air,” Biden said at a meeting with local emergency authorities and again promised comprehensive help. “My heart beats for everyone who has suffered this unimaginable loss. We will not abandon you.”

The president had previously announced that he would mobilize up to 1,000 soldiers to help distribute food, water and other urgently needed supplies.

His deputy, Harris, was in the state of Georgia at the same time. There she thanked the rescue workers, who sometimes rushed to help complete strangers despite their own losses. “That’s one of the beautiful things about this country: that people really stick together in such emergency situations,” said Harris in the city of Augusta. “This really highlights the fact that the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what divides us.”

Extreme weather is becoming an election campaign issue

The statement was probably an indirect swipe at her opponent Donald Trump. The Democrat is running against the Republican in the presidential election on November 5th. The storm and its consequences could become a political issue shortly before the election. Similar to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which put pressure on the government under Republican George W. Bush, the current administration is also under critical scrutiny regarding its crisis management. Trump is already trying to use the disaster for his election campaign.

Biden said during his visit to North Carolina that politics must be put aside at a moment like this. “There are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans,” warned the president.

Many deaths and devastating destruction

“Helene” made landfall as a second-highest category hurricane in northwest Florida on Thursday evening, then weakened slightly and moved further north. The storm left immense devastation in six states. Today Biden is traveling to the affected areas in Florida and Georgia. Harris is also planning further visits to the regions devastated by the storm in the coming days.

According to US broadcaster CNN, at least 189 people were killed and hundreds remain missing. Authorities said most of the deaths occurred from fallen trees. US media reports that “Helene” is one of the deadliest storms in recent decades; Since 1950, only eight storms on the US mainland have claimed more than 100 lives.

Mules in action

As of Wednesday afternoon (local time), more than a million households in the disaster area were without electricity. Large parts of the power grid were destroyed, particularly in North and South Carolina. Roads are impassable in many places, making it difficult to deliver urgently needed relief supplies. In hard-to-reach areas, mules are even used to transport supplies, as US media reported.

Because many people lack cell phone reception, search and rescue teams leave handwritten instructions. Survivors sometimes write their names on plastic sheets, which are then shared online to inform their relatives. The satellite internet service Starlink announced that it would provide free network for 30 days to affected regions.

Scientists warn: climate change is the cause

Scientists blame climate change, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels, for the increase in extreme weather events like Helene. Rising temperatures in the oceans are helping to intensify hurricanes by injecting more energy and moisture into the storms. In addition, rising sea levels lead to stronger storm surges.