ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — President Joe Biden is planning to visit Florida and Georgia on Thursday to tour areas impacted by Hurricane Helene and meet with affected communities, the White House said in a news release.
This news comes just days after Biden approved FEMA assistance for seventeen counties affected by the storm.
Those counties are:
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Dixie
- Franklin
- Hernando
- Hillsborough
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lee
- Levy
- Madison
- Manatee
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Sarasota
- Taylor
- Wakulla
As of Wednesday, the death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached 166 as many residents in both states are still without running water, cellular service and electricity.
“We have to jump start this recovery process,” Biden said Tuesday, estimating it will cost billions. “People are scared to death. This is urgent.”
In Tampa Bay, several counties are still reeling from the record storm surge the hurricane brought to the area. At least 13 deaths were confirmed to have happened within the Bay area as a result of the storm.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the deaths were in North Carolina while dozens more occurred in South Carolina and Georgia.
More resources are available for those affected by the storm, including help with medical care, food and other needs.
For more information on resources for cleanup, rebuilding, food, shelter and more, click here.
The Associated Press contributed to the reporting in this story.
