As the southeastern United States grapples with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, former President Donald Trump has launched another scathing attack on the Biden administration’s response to the disaster.
Back in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he survived an assassination attempt in July, Trump spoke at a campaign rally drawing comparisons between the current crisis and the infamous Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans in 2005.
“This has been the worst Hurricane Response by a president and vice president since Katrina—and this is simply unacceptable,” Trump declared to his supporters. The former president specifically targeted Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of neglecting her duties during the crisis.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: In addition, this evening, we have to send our prayers and support to all the families affected by Hurricane Helene. This has been the worst Hurricane Response by a president and vice president since Katrina—and this is simply unacceptable… Kamala wined and… pic.twitter.com/dpztOttV4V
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 5, 2024
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has now reached a staggering 227 across six states, according to CNN‘s tally.
The latest figure puts Helene as the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland in the past half-century, surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina, which claimed at least 1,833 lives in 2005.
The impact of Helene has been particularly severe in North Carolina, where 113 deaths have been reported. South Carolina follows with 48 fatalities, while Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia have also suffered losses. The rising death toll has intensified scrutiny of the federal government’s response to the disaster.
As Politico reports, the timing and location of Hurricane Helene have thrust it into the spotlight of the upcoming presidential election. The storm’s devastating impact on key swing states like Georgia and North Carolina has made it a pivotal issue in the race, with both campaigns acutely aware of the political implications.
Trump has been quick to seize the narrative, visiting affected areas before President Biden and Vice President Harris. The former president and Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp shook hands last Friday during a meeting to discuss further relief efforts in the state.
With polls in Georgia showing an extremely tight 2024 race, Trump has since changed his tune on the governor, who he previously called “disloyal,” and thanked Kemp for his “help and support” in a recent Truth Social post.
The Biden administration, meanwhile, has been working to counter claims of negligence following the storms. Vice President Harris visited Augusta, Georgia on Wednesday, October 3, meeting with those distributing aid and cleaning up after the storm.
Newsweek contacted Trump and Harris’ campaign via email on Saturday for comment.
During her speech, Harris outlined the federal government’s relief efforts, including immediate cash disbursements and longer-term emergency funding.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been at the forefront of the relief efforts.
According to a press release, the organization has already disbursed over $10 million in “flexible and upfront” assistance to the affected states. FEMA as shipped over 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators, and more than 225,000 tarps to the storm zone.
Despite these efforts, more than 460,000 customers across five states remain without power more than a week after Helene made landfall. South Carolina leads with over 170,000 outages, followed closely by North Carolina with nearly 145,000 customers in the dark.
Politico notes that the political impact of Hurricane Helene could be significant. In the 25 North Carolina counties designated for FEMA assistance, nearly one million votes were cast in 2020. In Georgia, close to 650,000 votes were cast in the more than 40 FEMA-designated counties.
With both states currently showing Trump leading by only a single percentage point in polling averages, the government’s response to Helene could sway the election outcome.
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