President Biden Approves $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Relief

Mr. Biden has approved federal aid to help residents and local governments cover costs, including temporary shelter and water, debris removal and power restoration. About 8,000 federal workers are currently on the ground assisting with recovery efforts.

The spending comes as states across the southeastern United States struggle to recover from widespread devastation caused by successive storms.

US President Joe Biden visits hurricane-ravaged areas in St. Pete Beach, Florida, US, October 13. Photo: Reuters

The US president also called on lawmakers, who are on vacation until after the November 5 presidential election, to return to Washington to approve more disaster relief money.

Recovery is expected to take time. The two storms hit within two weeks of each other, straining federal resources in addition to tens of billions of dollars in insurance claims.

Making landfall on September 26, Hurricane Helene killed about 230 people and destroyed roads, power lines, and cell phone service. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Milton hit Florida, causing an estimated $50 billion in damage and killing dozens more.

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has become a political flashpoint as former President Donald Trump and his allies have criticized the Biden administration's response to the natural disaster.

At a recent rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, Mr. Trump said the current U.S. administration’s response to Hurricane Helene was worse than Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed nearly 1,400 people and caused $200 billion in damage.

“North Carolina has been hit very hard and this administration has not done a good job. It’s horrible,” Mr. Trump said at the rally.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tong-thong-biden-phe-duyet-18-ty-usd-cho-cuu-tro-bao-lu-post317232.html