By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday the immediate deployment of 1,000 active-duty troops to assist in the response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact. The troops, from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, are tasked with delivering critical supplies, including food and water, to the hardest-hit areas. The White House claims that the deployment will improve FEMA’s capacity to reach communities cut off by floodwaters and debris as the administration steps up its assistance for those who are storm-affected.
“The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said President Biden in a White House Fact Sheet. “We’re mobilizing every federal resource available to save lives, deliver supplies, and help communities rebuild as quickly as possible.”
The troops are part of a larger federal response that includes helicopters, high-wheeled vehicles, and the Department of Defense search-and-rescue teams. In addition to these soldiers, the Army Corps of Engineers is on the ground, working to restore power, manage debris, and ensure clean water access in impacted regions. The White House noted that more than 6,000 National Guard members from 12 states spearhead rescue operations, providing critical support under emergency mutual assistance compacts.
The president’s announcement comes as he travels to North Carolina and South Carolina to assess the damage firsthand. He will meet with local officials and first responders, receive briefings on ongoing operations, and discuss long-term recovery plans. Vice President Kamala Harris – the Democratic presidential nominee—is in Georgia to meet with residents and officials, ensuring the state receives the support it needs for its recovery.
“Our priority is to get essential resources to every community in need, and to make sure no one is left behind,” Harris said in a briefing. “We’re focused on saving lives, providing shelter, and helping people rebuild.”
In addition to deploying military personnel, the administration has mobilized over 4,800 federal workers to assist state and local response efforts across the region. FEMA has shipped over 8.5 million meals, more than 7 million liters of water, and 220,000 tarps to help people affected by the historic storm. Power restoration crews are working around the clock, though 1.6 million customers remain without power as of this morning—a significant improvement from the peak of 4.6 million outages.
Biden approved Major Disaster Declarations for Georgia and Virginia, in addition to previous declarations for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina to further support recovery efforts. The declarations allow affected residents to apply for FEMA assistance, which includes immediate payments to cover essential items such as food, water, and shelter. More than $10 million in individual assistance has already been distributed to families across the region, with more expected in the coming days.
The Department of Health and Human Services has declared public health emergencies across five states, enabling healthcare providers to deliver emergency care more effectively. Meanwhile, HUD has instituted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures for FHA-insured mortgages in affected areas and offers resources to help families rebuild.
The White House said the Biden-Harris administration remains committed to restoring power, rebuilding infrastructure, and aiding the millions impacted by Hurricane Helene. “We’ve faced storms before, and we’ve always come back stronger. We will do the same here,” Biden said. “This is America—when disaster strikes, we come together, we help one another, and we rebuild.”
As recovery efforts gain momentum, the administration said it is steadfast in ensuring every family and community receives the help they need. “We won’t stop until every person impacted by this storm is back on their feet,” Biden said.
