The nation’s top emergency management official will visit Florida Friday at the direction of President Joe Biden, he said, after speaking with the state’s governor to offer federal support.
The two leaders spoke and committed to continue “close coordination” as Hurricane Ian continued to move over the northeast part of the state, after making landfall near Ft. Myers as a Category 4 hurricane, flooding homes and streets, knocking out power for millions and stranding hundreds of residents.
Federal Emergency Management Administration chief Deanne Criswell will visit the state on Friday at Biden’s request.
Biden spoke earlier Thursday morning with Governor Ron DeSantis to “discuss the steps” the administration is taking to support Florida.
DeSantis said he told the president “thanks” and asked for the major disaster declaration to be expanded to more counties in central and northeast Florida, in order for them to get federal aid/
“We have everything we need in terms of supply,” he said, noting Floridians can volunteer to help or donate at floridadisasterfund.org.
About 2 million people were without power as of Thursday morning.
DeSantis called it a “500 year flood event.”
“The impacts of this storm are historic, and the damage that was done has been historic — and this is just off initial assessments,” the governor said.
