Federal assistance to Florida will cost billions of dollars, Criswell told reporters Wednesday.
Damage to infrastructure is still being assessed as the federal government remains in the “life saving and stabilization mode,” Criswell said during the flight from Washington to Florida, where Biden will be getting an update on hurricane recovery efforts.
“It's going to be in the billions. How many billions I don't know yet,” she said. “But it will certainly be in the billions and perhaps one of the more costly disasters that we've seen in many years.”
– Maureen Groppe
The latest on death toll, power, more
Biden is traveling to Fort Myers where he is scheduled to survey storm-ravaged areas by helicopter before meeting with small business owners and local residents and thanking responders for their efforts.
In addition to hearing from DeSantis, Biden will receive updates from Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, as well as state and local officials.
Biden's trip comes two days after he made a similar visit to Puerto Rico, where he promised to rebuild the island stronger than it was before Hurricane Fiona.
Top takeaways
Hurricanes can damage not just property, but also political reputations.
After leaving office, former President George W. Bush acknowledged his response to 2005’s Hurricane Katrina tarnished his legacy. A photo of Bush looking down from Air Force One on a flooded New Orleans as he was returning to Washington from a Texas vacation made him look, in his words, “detached and uncaring.”
Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles’ approval rating dropped precipitously after the state’s botched response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Successful disaster management can also be a political boost. In fact, some fellow Republicans blamed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for helping President Barack Obama win re-election by praising Obama’s response to Superstorm Sandy.
Biden and DeSantis
Biden and DeSantis, who may face each other on the 2024 presidential battlefield, have a combative history.
In a trip scrapped as Ian approached, Biden had planned to appear last week with Charlie Crist, the Democratic congressman challenging DeSantis for reelection in November. Last month, DeSantis – a frequent critic of Biden’s handling of border policies – flew planes of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard.
Send an email
