Biden pledges Florida support after storm damage

US President Joe Biden has vowed to springiness Florida immoderate enactment it needs to rebuild successful the aftermath of Tropical Storm Idalia's destruction.

Mr Biden was speaking during a sojourn to the state, wherever astatine slightest 2 radical are known to person died aft the tempest made landfall connected Wednesday,

He added that nary "intelligent" idiosyncratic could uncertainty the interaction of clime alteration successful the aftermath of the storm.

Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis chose not to conscionable the president connected his trip.

Mr DeSantis had earlier suggested Mr Biden's beingness could hinder catastrophe effect efforts. Mr Biden, who has spoken to Mr DeSantis aggregate times this week, had said they would beryllium gathering successful person.

But a spokesperson for Mr DeSantis said connected Friday that the politician had nary plans to conscionable with the president, adding that information preparations required for specified a gathering would "shut down ongoing betterment efforts".

Mr Biden praised Mr DeSantis during his sojourn connected Saturday and said helium was not disappointed by the Republican governor's absence.

"He sat with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and decided wherever we should go, wherever would beryllium the slightest disruption," Mr Biden told reporters successful beforehand of a storm-damaged location successful the municipality of Live Oak, 1 of the worst-hit areas.

Mr Biden did conscionable with Rick Scott, 1 of the state's 2 Republican senators, and said it was a "reassuring" motion that the authorities enactment and national authorities were moving good together.

Mr DeSantis spent the time astir 50 miles (80km) south, touring tiny communities on Florida's Gulf Coast, according to his authoritative schedule.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden besides met with evacuated residents astatine an simple school.

"As I told your governor, if there's thing your authorities needs, I'm acceptable to mobilise that support," Mr Biden said astatine a property league afterwards.

"Your federation has your back, and we'll beryllium with you until the occupation is done."

Idalia landed arsenic a almighty hurricane successful Florida's Big Bend country connected Wednesday and has been described by officials arsenic the worst tempest to deed the portion successful 100 years. The tempest has since travelled north, hitting the neighbouring authorities of Georgia and the Carolinas.

Homes and businesses person been flooded, and powerfulness has been knocked retired for hundreds of thousands of people.

FEMA caput Deanne Criswell told reporters connected Saturday that hunt and rescue operations had ended and officials were focusing connected restoring powerfulness to the affected regions.

She added that little than 1% of Floridians were without power, though that fig was importantly higher successful immoderate areas straight impacted by the hurricane.

Mr DeSantis has consistently polled 2nd for the Republican statesmanlike superior nomination, trailing acold down frontrunner and erstwhile President Donald Trump.

The 2024 predetermination is wide expected to beryllium a repetition of 2020 betwixt Mr Biden and Mr Trump.