Storm Idalia: Biden pledges support to help Florida recover
President Joe Biden has said he will give Florida any support needed to rebuild following the Tropical Storm Idalia.
The US president made a visit to the state, where at least two people have died, saying there was no doubt about the impact of climate change in the wake of the storm.
Meanwhile, Florida governor and president hopeful Ron DeSantis chose not to meet the president on his trip.
DeSantis had earlier suggested the president’s presence could hinder disaster response efforts.
Biden, who has spoken to DeSantis multiple times this week, had said they would be meeting in person. But a spokesperson for DeSantis said there were no plans for the two to meet.
The US president did praise the Republican governor though, saying he was not disappointed by the governor’s absence during his Saturday visit.
“He sat with Fema (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and decided where we should go, where would be the least disruption,” Biden told reporters in front of a storm-damaged house in the town of Live Oak, one of the worst-hit areas.