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Senior White House officials alongside FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor visited the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia. President Joe Biden did not attend, however, due to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ refusal to invite the president.
Members of the Biden administration said they had travelled to the Panhandle in part to highlight how climate change is pushing up the severity of storms and to underscore the importance of preparing for more of them.
“It is incredibly important to ensure there is a unified federal response to the storms that hit our shores, and this trip is an opportunity to discuss how to ensure all communities receive the assistance they need in a timely manner,” said Lyntrell Robertson, a White House spokeswoman, in a statement.
FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor did not directly address DeSantis’ refusal to invite Biden, but said the administration was “not here to point fingers or play politics” and that they were simply “here to help.”
The officials visited two sites devastated by Hurricane Idalia: the small town of Mexico Beach, and the Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City. They were also scheduled to attend a virtual meeting with local officials discussing the long-term recovery efforts in the region.
The federal government has allocated more than $67 million to help Florida with its relief efforts following the storm.