ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — President Joe Biden announced millions in federal aid to support communities devastated by Hurricane Milton while praising bipartisan efforts to support Americans following a disaster.
The president visited the Tampa Bay area on Sunday, getting an aerial tour to see the battered coastline and destruction to the region from Hurricane Milton. He delivered remarks in St. Pete Beach, which was ravaged by the storm, leaving entire homes uprooted and debris scattered everywhere.
The $612 million will include $47 million for Gainesville Regional Utilities and another $47 million for Florida Power and Light to help restore power in communities.
"This funding will not only restore power, but will make the region's power system stronger and more capable and reduce the frequency and duration of power outages while extreme weather events become more frequent," Biden said.
Millions of Floridians lost power in the aftermath of Milton. Thousands of restoration resources have been deployed throughout the state while many are still without power.
"Thanks to tens of thousands of power workers from 43 states and Canada working nonstop, even more people will have power restored soon," he said.
Biden acknowledged the back-to-back storms the region has dealt with as Milton came barely two weeks after Hurricane Helene.
"In moments like this, we come together to take care of each other. Not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans. Americans who need help," he said.
The president preached that the country is "one United States," despite Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis being absent from the remarks.
DeSantis is going to be just north of St. Pete Beach on Treasure Island Sunday afternoon for a news conference. This doesn't come as a huge surprise considering the governor did not go to the last Biden visit in North Florida.
Although, Republican Sen. Rick Scott was in attendance.
At the end of his remarks, he thanked first responders.
"This is all a team effort folks. You made a big difference in saving lives," he said.