Biden speaks about federal response to Hurricane Milton
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00:00But we know life-saving measures did make a difference.
00:04More than 80,000 people followed orders of safety
00:06as to safely shelter last night.
00:10And we've had search-and-rescue teams
00:13at the ready for any calls for help this morning.
00:17There's still very dangerous conditions in the state,
00:20and people should wait to be given the all-clear
00:23by their leaders before they go out.
00:25We know from previous hurricanes that it's often the case
00:29that more lives are lost today following the storm
00:32than actually during the storm itself.
00:35Vice President Harris and I have been in constant contact
00:38with the state and local officials.
00:40We're offering everything they need.
00:42I must have spoken to somewhere between 10 and 15 mayors
00:47and county executives and all the governors.
00:50And, in fact, starting this morning,
00:54we are getting direct assessments
00:56from the storm in FEMA and Director Criswell as well.
01:00Also, Florida Governor DeSantis, whom I had a chance to speak.
01:03And the Vice President and I have just convened a meeting
01:06this morning with the leaders
01:08of the Department of Homeland Security,
01:10Department of Defense, including NORTHCOM Commander,
01:13who has responsibility for providing defense support
01:17to civilian authorities.
01:19And that, apparently, is going very well.
01:21As well as from the Coast Guard and from FEMA,
01:24we've received reports.
01:25We focused on what the American military can do
01:28like no one else can provide emergency support
01:31for communities in need.
01:33And we're required by the governor in a federal of-
01:36and required by the governor in the affected states.
01:40I've spoken to all the governors.
01:42Not today, all of them, but I've spoken to all of them thus far.
01:45And how we can be ready to go in an instant when the call comes.
01:49At my direction, the Defense Secretary Austin
01:52has provided a range of capabilities,
01:54both to Florida for Hurricane Milton,
01:56as well as the states impacted by Hurricane Helene.
02:00And the more capabilities are available,
02:01we assess the pressing needs.
02:03We can get whatever they need.
02:04To the servicemen and women who are on the ground
02:07responding to these disasters, thank you.
02:10Thank you for your professionalism,
02:13your dedication to every mission you're given.
02:15You're repeating it again.
02:18This is a whole-of-government effort.
02:20It also includes the Department of Energy
02:21and Department of Transportation,
02:24Department of Health and Human Services,
02:26and the Department of Housing and Urban Development,
02:28which is providing mortgage relief for impacted homeowners.
02:32As directed, FEMA is going to open disaster recovery centers
02:37all across the impacted communities right away.
02:39So there's one stop the residents can go to
02:42to learn about the support they might need.
02:45And that will be advertised where those places are.
02:48Three million people are without power,
02:51but more than 40 million power work-
02:53power line workers have come from around the country,
02:56from Canada to Florida, to restore power across the state.
03:00In addition, the Federal Aviation
03:03has authorized Florida Power and Light
03:06to fly large drones before other manned aircraft
03:09can get up in the sky to quickly assess the damage on the ground
03:13so ground crews can restore power as quickly as possible.
03:18The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers
03:20are assessing how fast they can reopen the Port of Tampa
03:23to get fuel, food, water, and other basic goods
03:26flowing into the area again and quickly.
03:29Additionally, Vice President Harris
03:31and I said yesterday, and we'll say it again,
03:34anyone who seeks to take advantage
03:36of our fellow Americans' desperation,
03:39whether you're a company engaging in price gouging
03:41or a citizen trying to scam your neighbors,
03:44we will go after you and we will hold you accountable.
03:47Now, not only that, our fellow Americans
03:50are putting their lives on the line
03:52to do this dangerous work and receive death penalties.
03:55Some received death penalties yesterday
03:58as a result of recklessly responsible
04:00and relentless disinformation
04:02and outright lies that continue to flow.
04:05Those who engage in such lies are undermining confidence
04:08in the rescue and recovery work that's opening and ongoing
04:13as I speak or continuing.
04:15These lies are also harmful to those who most need help.
04:19Lives are on the line.
04:21People are in desperate situations.
04:23Have the decency to tell them the truth.
04:26So let me say this, to all the people
04:29impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton,
04:32despite the misinformation and lies,
04:34the truth is we're providing the resources
04:37needed to rescue, recover, and rebuild.
04:40And rebuild. Let me close with this.
04:43I know recovery and rebuilding projects
04:45can take a long and difficult time.
04:48But as long after the press and the cameras move on,
04:50I promise you, you have to pick up the pieces still.
04:53I want you to know, everything on our power
04:56to help you put pieces back together
04:58and get all that you need.
05:00God bless you and may God bless our troops
05:02and our first responders who, in some cases,
05:05are risking their lives to help. Thank you very much.
05:07I'll be reporting again tomorrow. Thank you.
05:09Mr. President, on FEMA funding, on FEMA funding,
05:12how much time does Congress have to act
05:15before FEMA or the SBA run out of money?
05:20That's in discussion now,
05:21and I don't want to give you a mislead you.
05:22I think in terms of the SBA,
05:26it's pretty right at the edge right now.
05:29And I think the Congress should be coming back
05:32and moving on the emergency needs immediately.
05:36They're going to have to come back after the election as well.
05:38Because this is going to be a long haul for total rebuilding.
05:42It's going to take several billion dollars.
05:44It's not going to be a matter of just a little bit.
05:46What we're providing now to make sure people
05:48have the emergency relief they need,
05:50the dollars just to be able to get a prescription filled,
05:52to get a baby formula done, all the things.
05:55That's $750 that they're talking about.
05:59Mr. Trump and every- all those other people know
06:02it's a lie to suggest that's all they're going to get.
06:04That's bizarre. It's bizarre.
06:07They got to stop this.
06:09It's- I mean, they're being so damn un-American
06:11with the way they're talking about this stuff.
06:13But there's going to be a need for significant amounts of money.
06:16We're already underway at trying to calculate
06:18what the cost will be because we don't want to mislead anybody.
06:21We want to make sure all the costs are able to be covered.
06:24Have you spoken to Speaker Johnson
06:25about coming back before the election to vote?
06:27No, I haven't.
06:29Mr. President, are you calling on Congress to come back early?
06:32I think Congress should move as rapidly as they can,
06:34particularly on the most immediate need,
06:37which is small business.
06:38But are you- The Vice President said yesterday
06:41that FEMA has what it needs. There's enough resource.
06:43They don't- that Congress does not need to come back, right?
06:45FEMA has its needs. That's different than SBA.
06:49Okay. So SBA, they need to come back to SBA.
06:51Yeah, but they're going to need a lot more.
06:53Mr. President, what did you- what did Prime Minister Netanyahu
06:57tell you about his plans relating to retaliation-
07:00He's coming over to help with a storm.
07:02Mr. President, have you spoken before with President Trump
07:05at all?
07:07Are you kidding me?
07:11Mr. President Trump, former President Trump,
07:14get a life, man. Help these people.
07:16Will you hold him accountable?
07:17You said you were going to hold those accountable.
07:21I'll let go of hold of account.
07:22You better impress hold of account
07:24because you know the truth.
07:25Will you plan to speak with former President Trump?
07:28No.