Biden Delivers Remarks on Hurricane Milton

Good evening. Within a few hours, Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the western coast of Florida. Already we’re seeing impacts from the storm, including significant winds and heavy rain, and there has also been frequent and widespread tornado warnings throughout the day, and they’re continuing and expected to expand as Milton moves over land, including a few that have already touched down in South Florida. Currently, Milton is a category three, with wind speeds up to 120 miles per hour. But no one should be confused, it’s still expected to be one of the most and worst destructive hurricanes to hit Florida in over a century. Both the heads of the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service made it very clear in conversations I’ve had with them earlier today, Milton still carries incredible destructiveness, can wipe out communities, can cause loss of life.

(01:08)
Storm surge is still expected to be up to 13 feet, so I urge everyone in Hurricane Milton’s path to listen to local officials and follow all the safety instructions they give. At this point, evacuation is probably difficult, so I encourage people to look for safer shelter. Sometimes moving just a few miles can mean the difference between life and death. We’ve already approved emergency declarations for Florida. We have thousands of federal personnel on the ground who we’ve staged and are ready to go. We have 20 million meals, 40 million liters of water. In my direction, the Secretary of Defense, Austin, has pre-positioned search and rescue teams, helicopters, and high-water speed vehicles as close to the storm as possible, so they’re ready to conduct life-saving missions and the Administrator of FEMA will be on site tonight in Florida in the State Emergency Operations Center. Both Administrator Criswell and I will be in constant contact with state and local officials in the hours ahead.

(02:20)
Once this storm hits, we’re going to work with state officials to clear debris, restore power, and do it as fast as possible. The Army Corps of Engineers will pump out water and decrease flooding. We’ve already directed the Department of Defense to be ready to provide active-duty service members to support Florida after the storm surge if Governor DeSantis requests the help, which I expect he might, just like we did North Carolina. I have surged over 1000 US Coast Guard personnel to perform search and rescue missions and reopen the Port of Tampa as soon as possible. Now, I want to reiterate a point. I made clear earlier today to the folks who have been impacted by Helene and will be now impacted by Milton, over the last few weeks there’s been reckless and irresponsible and relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies about what’s going on. It’s undermining confidence in the people in Florida.

(03:23)
An incredible rescue and recovery work that has been undertaken. Literally, there are thousands of fellow Americans who are putting their lives at stake and put it on the line to do the dangerous work that needs to be done now, and it’s harmful to those who most need the help. Quite frankly, these lies are un-American and there are simply no place for them. Not now, not ever. Former President Trump has led this onslaught of lies. Assertions have been made that property is being confiscated. That’s simply not true. They’re saying people impacted by these storms will receive $750 in cash and no more. That is simply not true either. They’re saying that money needed for these crises are being diverted to migrants. What the heck are they talking about? Stop it. It’s outrageous. It’s just not true. Now the claims are getting even more bizarre.

(04:19)
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather. We’re controlling the weather. It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s so stupid. It’s got to stop. Let me close with this. As difficult are these days and weeks have been, we’ve seen incredible courage by so many of our fellow Americans. I want to thank all the first responders for running toward danger instead of away from it, for saving lives and making the difference. Female personnel risking their lives, climbing on hillsides to reach people who were cut off by Helena. Army National Guard flying through the gale wind force. It’s amazing what they’re doing. Firefighters lifting collapsed, wood and metal in an attempt to to see if there are any survivors under the debris, risking their lives. Coast Guard teams repelling from helicopters to rescue people and risking their own lives.

(05:17)
And there are countless friends and neighbors who have sacrificed for the greater good. Volunteers leaving their own families behind to help search for someone else’s family. Fellow Americans looking out for one another. That’s America at its very best. That’s who we are. So my final message tonight is to the people of Florida and all the impacted states. We’ve got your back. We’ve got your back, and Kamala and I will be there for as long as it takes to rescue, recover and rebuild. May God bless you all and may God protect those serving in the eye of this storm on behalf of our nation. Thank you.

Why do you think Trump is spreading misinformation? Why think former President Trump has sent this information to President Putin during the height of the pandemic? Do you have a comment, Sir? Why do you think Trump is-

Speaking of un-American.

Why do you think Trump is spreading misinformation?

I don’t know. I simply don’t know. You can speculate, but I just find it, and I’ve used the phrase more than I’ve used it ever in my whole career, un-American. It’s un-American. It’s not who the hell we are. What are they talking about?

Sir, have you considered calling him and asking him to stop doing that? To stop spreading it?

No, come on.

Mr. President, does Governor DeSantis need to take Vice President Harris calls?

All I can tell you is I’m talking to Governor DeSantis. He’s been very gracious. He’s thanked me for all we’ve done. He knows what we’re doing and I think that’s important.

Can you say that Florida has everything it needs for the storm?

How was your call with Netanyahu today?

We didn’t talk about the storm.

Thanks, everybody.