With a provisional death toll of 130 and devastation in the southeast of the United States, Hurricane Helene took a political turn on Monday, with Donald Trump attacking the Biden administration’s management of the disaster.
The extent of the damage from the hurricane, which hit Florida Thursday evening before crossing other states, remains difficult to establish. Several areas remain inaccessible and devoid of telephone network and electricity. “There are 600 people we have no news about,” Liz Sherwood-Randall, US President Joe Biden’s homeland security adviser, said on Monday, saying she hoped that some of these people were “alive”.
Georgia and North Carolina, two states particularly affected by this natural disaster, are among the seven pivotal states which could swing the presidential election on November 5. Donald Trump visited Valdosta, a disaster-stricken town in Georgia, on Monday. The Republican presidential candidate in November pledged to “bring lots of relief supplies, including fuel, equipment and water” to those in need.
Biden accuses Trump of lying
He also announced that he had asked Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX to whom he is close, to deploy his Starlink satellite internet service in the region. “The federal state is not responsive,” the former president lambasted on the spot, after earlier accusing the government and Democratic authorities in North Carolina of “deliberately not helping people in Republican areas.”
“He’s lying,” retorted a virulent Joe Biden. “What makes me angry (is that he) implies that we are not doing everything that is possible. (…) It is false and it is irresponsible.” Outgoing President Joe Biden has brushed aside criticism from Republicans over his handling of the crisis. “I spent at least two hours on the phone yesterday, as well as the day before,” he retorted, assuring that the federal authorities would be “there as long as necessary.” The Democrat also announced that he would travel to North Carolina on Wednesday. He had previously indicated that he would not travel as long as it could disrupt relief operations.
Not the time to “talk politics”
Wearing his usual red cap, Donald Trump also directly attacked his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, accusing her of being “on the move, campaigning” before asserting himself that it was not the time to “talk politics”. The vice-president, however, canceled campaign events to hold a meeting on Monday on the disaster and announced that she would go there soon.
In the affected states, rescuers continue to work to try to find survivors and bring food to residents hit by the disaster, sometimes cut off from the world. At least 130 people lost their lives, including 57 in North Carolina, 29 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia and 14 in Florida, according to a report compiled by AFP from statements by local authorities.
“This is an unprecedented storm,” said North Carolina Democratic Governor Ray Cooper, describing “an indescribable emotional and material toll.” He also refuted Donald Trump’s accusations that Republican victims were neglected: “If you need help, we will provide it,” he assured. “If there was ever a time to come together and put politics aside, it’s now.”