Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Biden on Wednesday emphasised their “cooperation” — regardless of their political variations — because the president visited Fort Myers, Florida, which was onerous hit by Hurricane Ian final week.
DeSantis thanked Mr. Biden for visiting the state and for his responsiveness, and mentioned he is in all probability by no means seen higher coordination amongst state, native and federal authorities. DeSantis mentioned Florida has been “very lucky” to have good coordination with the White Home and Federal Emergency Administration Company all through the continuing disaster. In flip, Mr. Biden in flip thanked DeSantis for his hospitality, and famous the cooperation he and DeSantis had since earlier than the storm hit.
“In the present day, we have now one job and just one job, and that is to ensure the folks of Florida get every thing that they should absolutely, totally recuperate,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “… That is the USA of America, and I emphasize, united.”
The president additionally recommended DeSantis, telling reporters that the governor has completed a “good job” regardless of their “totally different political philosophies.”
“What the governor’s completed is fairly exceptional,” Mr. Biden mentioned.
EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / REUTERS
Upon touchdown in Fort Meyers, Florida, early Wednesday afternoon, the president and first girl Jill Biden took an aerial tour to get a greater take a look at the storm’s devastation. The Bidens had been then greeted by DeSantis and Florida’s first girl, Casey DeSantis, at a wharf plagued by particles. The president additionally shook fingers with GOP Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
Collectively, the president, governor and first girls met with native officers and residents whose lives had been upended by the hurricane.
CBS Information has confirmed at least 108 people died as a result of storm — 104 in Florida and one other 4 in North Carolina. White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday mentioned the president and first girl will “reaffirm” the president’s dedication to Florida.
“The president will meet with small enterprise homeowners and native residents impacted by Hurricane Ian and thank the federal, state and native officers working across the clock to offer life-saving help, restore energy, distribute meals and water, take away particles and start rebuilding efforts,” Jean-Pierre mentioned Tuesday. “Governor DeSantis, the FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell and different state and native officers may also present the president with an operational briefing on the present response and restoration efforts.”
Last week, forward of the storm, Mr. Biden mentioned he’d already spoken with DeSantis a number of occasions concerning the huge storm, and dismissed any suggestion that their political variations would influence their cooperation in serving to the folks of Florida. Mr. Biden mentioned DeSantis had complimented him on the federal response to the storm.
“This isn’t about whether or not or — something having to do with our disagreements politically,” Mr. Biden mentioned on Thursday. “That is about saving folks’s lives, properties, and companies. That is what that is about. And so, I have been — I’ve talked to him 4, 5 occasions already. And it isn’t a matter of my disagreements with him on different gadgets.”
On Monday, the president and first girl visited Puerto Rico, which is reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Fiona final month, whereas nonetheless rebuilding from Hurricane Maria in 2017.
“You’ve needed to bear a lot and greater than want be, and you have not gotten the assist in a well timed approach,” Mr. Biden lamented in his speech Monday. “And this newest storm dealt a critical blow to all, all of the onerous work that has been completed since Maria.”
