Harris announces new humanitarian aid following Hurricane Helene in Georgia

“I’m here today to thank everyone who is working to get the support and help they desperately need,” Harris said Wednesday afternoon before announcing a new policy from President Joe Biden regarding efforts to RELAUNCH.

“Today, I am also announcing that the President has approved the Governor’s request for 100% federal reimbursement for local spending,” Harris continued, referring to Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) as she s ‘ was speaking in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of Augusta.

“In addition, we will cover local government costs for food, water and housing,” Harris added.

Hours earlier, Biden took an aerial tour of Greenville, South Carolina, before traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina, to be briefed at the emergency operations center.

But it was Harris, not Biden, the sitting president, who announced the new relief measures despite their coordinated efforts, likely in an effort to bolster her leadership credentials with voters as she seeks the presidency.

“The president and I have been very attentive from the beginning to what we need to do to ensure that federal resources arrive as quickly as possible,” Harris said. “And that includes what was necessary to ensure that we provided direct federal assistance and that the work was underway.”

The vice president also touted the $750 in benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help those affected buy immediate needs such as food, formula and other necessities.

“FEMA is also providing tens of thousands of dollars more to people to help them with home repairs, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, as well as hotel costs,” he said. continued Harris.

Sen. Jon Osoff (D-GA) and Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson accompanied Harris as she met with the city’s local and state leaders, just two days after former President Donald Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, where he accused the Biden-Harris ticket of failing to adequately help the Peach State in the wake of Helen.

However, Kemp and Biden pushed back against those accusations, with both leaders speaking by phone on Sunday.

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Harris also warned that the days ahead would require some patience after the devastation.

“There will be a lot of work to do over the coming days, weeks and months,” she said. “And the coordination we have dedicated to will be sustainable to bring families, residents together, and get neighborhoods back up and running.” »