President Joe Biden announced $612 million in recovery aid for areas hit by Hurricanes Milton and Helene while surveying the aftermath of Milton in Florida.
“This funding will not only restore power, but will make the region’s power system stronger and more capable and reduce the frequency and duration of power outages as extreme weather events become more frequent,” Biden said Sunday in St. During a stop at Pete Beach.
Biden said Friday that Milton’s damage alone It could be around $50 billion based on initial assessments. Sunday’s funding announcement will go toward six Energy Department projects to strengthen the region’s electric grid, according to the White House.
The trip is part of an effort by Biden, who is running for president in the Nov. 5 election, and Vice President Kamala Harris to reassure voters about the government’s response to the disaster and counter claims by former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, that the administration is not doing enough.
Milton is the second storm to hit Florida in recent weeks, bringing fresh devastation to a state still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc in the southeastern United States. Harris was visiting North Carolina on Sunday for stops including a campaign rally.
The grant funds will be distributed through the Department of Energy’s Grid Resiliency and Innovation Partnership Program. Some of the projects slated to receive funding include $47 million for Gainesville Regional Utilities and $47 million for Switched Source to partner with Florida Power & Light.
