Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are calling for the Biden administration to appoint a military leader to oversee recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. They believe that an active-duty military leader with experience in managing operations of this magnitude would be beneficial in leading the response moving forward. The Senators issued a joint statement expressing their concerns about the response to the devastation caused by the hurricane, as some lawmakers continue to criticize the federal government’s handling of the situation.
The death toll in southeastern states impacted by Hurricane Helene has surpassed 224, with over 100 fatalities reported in western North Carolina alone. The Biden administration has faced criticism for its supposed inadequate response to the disaster. Despite this, the White House has stated that President Biden has been coordinating the federal response, including approving emergency declarations and deploying 1,000 active-duty soldiers to assist in search-and-rescue operations. Additionally, FEMA Director Deanne Criswell has been on the ground in North Carolina overseeing the distribution of food and water to affected residents.
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, FEMA and other agencies have deployed over 4,800 personnel to assist in recovery efforts in North Carolina and neighboring states. The White House reported that FEMA has shipped millions of meals, liters of water, generators, and tarps to aid in response efforts. As of Friday, the federal government has allocated more than $45 million in Individual Assistance to survivors impacted by the storm, with one-time $750 payments being distributed to qualified applicants in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The Biden administration has been criticized for its handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, with some lawmakers calling for the appointment of a military leader to oversee recovery efforts. Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd have expressed concerns about the response and believe that an active-duty military leader with experience in managing large-scale operations would be beneficial in leading the efforts moving forward. Despite the criticism, the White House has defended President Biden’s coordination of the federal response, which includes deploying 1,000 soldiers and providing millions of meals, liters of water, generators, and tarps to aid in recovery efforts.
FEMA Director Deanne Criswell has been on the ground in North Carolina overseeing the distribution of resources to affected residents. The federal government has provided over $45 million in Individual Assistance to survivors impacted by Hurricane Helene, with one-time payments being distributed to qualified applicants in several states. The response to the devastation caused by the hurricane continues to be a focal point of criticism, with ongoing efforts to support affected communities and improve the recovery process.
Overall, the federal response to Hurricane Helene’s devastation has been met with mixed reactions, with some lawmakers calling for a more robust and experienced military leader to oversee recovery efforts. Despite the criticism, the White House has defended President Biden’s coordination of the federal response and the efforts being made to support affected communities. FEMA and other agencies have deployed thousands of personnel and provided millions of meals, liters of water, generators, and tarps to aid in recovery efforts, with millions of dollars in Individual Assistance being allocated to survivors of the storm. Efforts to improve the response and support affected communities continue as the recovery process unfolds.
