Sunday 2 October 2022 07:12 AM Biden to visit Florida and Puerto Rico after Hurricane Ian to meet with ... trends now
President Joe Biden has promised to visit both Puerto Rico and Florida next week in the wake hurricane's Fiona and Ian which both struck within the last ten days.
Biden will visit Puerto Rico on Monday before heading to Florida on Wednesday.
The White House has not yet provided specific details for the visit but Biden had previously said he expected to visit both locations in part to reassure residents that the federal government will assist in recovery efforts.
Biden will meet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in what will be the first encounter between the pair since clashing over transgender rights, abortion and immigration - all likely to be big issues for next month's Midterms.
The pair have managed to steer clear of political attacks in the last week.
When asked by a reporter how Biden's relationship with DeSantis was, he was particularly positive
President Biden together with and the first lady will travel to Puerto Rico on Monday to survey the damage from Hurricane Fiona. The president is pictured on Saturday night
'In fact, very fine. He complimented me,' Biden said. 'He thanked me for the immediate response we had. He told me how much he appreciated it. He said he was extremely happy with what's going on.'
'This is not about anything having to do with our disagreements politically. This is about saving people's lives, homes, and businesses.'
DeSantis has also toned down his rhetoric in recent days.
Previously he had criticized federal hurricane assistance as a 'boondoggle' saying it was being delivered with a 'put it on the credit card mentality.'
However, last week, in Florida's hour of need, DeSantis reached out to the federal government for aid.
'You know, when people are fighting for their lives, when their whole livelihood is at stake, when they've lost everything — if you can't put politics aside for that, then you're just not going to be able to,' the governor said.
Hurricane Ian flooded communities across the state, knocked out power and forced people into shelters with the death toll standing at 77 as of Saturday night.
Biden will meet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, pictured on Friday, in what will be the first encounter between the pair since clashing over transgender rights, abortion and immigration - all likely to be big issues for next month's Midterms
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis posts a photo on October 1, 2022, captioned: Today, I met with Marta, who had her house destroyed and was rescued by one of our high-water vehicles. Damage from #HurricaneIan flooding extends across the state, but our people are resilient.'
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tweets:I was back in Lee County today working with local officials and volunteers to get Floridians' back on their feet. Stay strong - we will get through this
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pictured surveying the damage in Lee County
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tweeted: 'WaffleHouse is one of the first restaurants in Charlotte County to reopen and provide hot meals as we work together to serve Floridians after #HurricaneIan. Thank you for providing meals to the linemen working to restore power.'
DeSantis was pictured in Lee County, home to Fort Myers and epicenter of the hurricane's devastation on Florida's Gulf Coast, there were 35 deaths after county officials waited a day longer than other nearby areas to issue evacuation orders
In Lee County, home to Fort Myers and epicenter of the hurricane's devastation on Florida's Gulf Coast, there were 35 deaths after county officials waited a day longer than other nearby areas to issue evacuation orders.
Other deaths were reported in Charlotte, Volusia, Sarasota, Lake, Collier and Manatee counties.
The fatalities reported
