WASHINGTON — President Biden said after a second day of touring Hurricane Helene damage Thursday that those affected are “very happy” with the federal response despite widespread criticism — after pausing for a moment and saying he was trying to think of “which storm” a reporter was asking about.
Republicans critics have panned Biden as aloof amid local concerns about the speed and breadth of the federal response to America’s deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“What do the states in the storm zone — what do they need after what you saw today?” a journalist asked Biden, 81, as he returned to the White House after dark from a trip to Florida and Georgia.
“Oh, in the storm zone. I was wondering what storm you’re talking about,” replied Biden, who on Wednesday toured South Carolina and North Carolina.
“They’re getting everything they need. And they’re very happy across the board.”
Critics have faulted the speed with which aid was deployed to ravaged areas of western North Carolina, the slow pace of approving Georgia counties for federal funds and the fact that initial direct aid for victims consisted of just $750 apiece for groceries and other necessities.
The outrage became louder after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed Wednesday that FEMA was running out of hurricane relief funds — after the emergency management agency spent $1.4 billion over two years on housing and food for migrants allowed by Mayorkas’ department into the US to await asylum rulings.
“Biden didn’t know ‘which storm zone’ the reporter was asking about and then said ‘they’re very happy.’ Does anyone think he has the faintest clue about where he went and how those folks are doing?” Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), who is dating storm-zone Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), posted on X.
“Are you kidding me?? He actually said ‘THEY ARE GETTING EVERYTHING THEY NEED, THEY ARE VERY HAPPY,’” wrote Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas).
“Unbelievable suffering, devastation, lack of federal assistance, and Biden thinks the people of North Carolina are HAPPY and well taken care of?? This Harris/Biden administration is the embodiment of America-Last.”
Officials from the impacted states have given mixed reviews — with some Republicans applauding the response.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Tuesday the speed and distribution of federal assistance to his state “has been superb.”
Others have slammed the federal response after at least 214 people died across six states late last week and over the past weekend.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday he was “outraged” that Biden on Tuesday included just 11 of Georgia’s counties in an emergency designation allowing for federal aid — with Kemp saying about 90 of the state’s 159 counties should have been included.
Another 30 Georgia counties were added later on Tuesday after Kemp called the White House to protest.
“We spoke to the president’s chief of staff, the FEMA administrator and said, ‘Look, you’re sending the signal that you’re not paying attention to some of these rural communities,’” Kemp said.
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), whose district includes some of the worst-impacted areas, said Monday that his constituents were dismayed by the initial on-the-ground federal recovery efforts.
“The people in western North Carolina feel let down, deservedly so. The response has been disappointing,” Edwards told NewsNation.
“We’ve begun to see some resources brought in today, but the storm was over about 80 hours ago. The storm was over about 10 a.m. Friday. We knew that the storm was coming and only today are we beginning to see the first FEMA employees and trailers and helicopters come in.”
