Biden thanks first responders, announces more than $600 million for energy resilience during visit to Florida after Milton and Helene

() – US President Joe Biden thanked first responders and local officials for being “strong partners” in the federal response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene – noting it was his second trip to the state in a couple of weeks to visit the damage. of a major storm – while announcing new funding for power grid resiliency in St. Pete Beach, Florida, this Sunday.

“I am here in Florida for the second time in two weeks to check out the damage caused by another catastrophic storm, Hurricane Milton,” Biden said. “Fortunately, the impact of the storm was not as cataclysmic as we had anticipated.”

But, he added, “for some individuals it was cataclysmic.”

Biden sympathized with Florida residents who lost everything, describing them as “heartbroken and exhausted, and their expenses are piling up.”

He thanked local officials, who were also personally affected by the hurricane, saying their work was a testament to “the resilience of the people of West Florida.”

“The American people need to know the sacrifices they are making,” Biden said. “They have also been firm partners. “We have been in frequent contact.”

In times like this, Biden said, “we come together to care for each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans, Americans who need help and Americans who would help you if you were in the same situation. “We are one United States.”

The president announced more than $600 million in energy resilience projects to shore up the power grid in places like Florida.

Biden did not mention the misinformation spread by some of his critics after the hurricane. He became increasingly frustrated by statements, especially from former President Donald Trump, that cast doubt on the federal response to the hurricanes. Earlier this week, he bluntly told Trump to “get his life” in response to criticism.

The event was bipartisan, with the presence of Republicans Rick Scott and Anna Paulina Luna. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis again did not appear alongside the president.

‘s Sam Fossum contributed to this article.