President Joe Biden will travel to Fort Myers on Wednesday and get a briefing from Gov. Ron DeSantis and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell on Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.
DeSantis said Tuesday he will discuss with state Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie possible areas for requesting more federal assistance from the Biden administration.
“If there is more FEMA can do, we’ll put that in,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Fort Myers. DeSantis has already directed Guthrie to request an additional 30 days on a 30-day disaster declaration Biden signed last week. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that Biden will also tour the region.
“While there, the president will meet with small-business owners and local residents impacted by Hurricane Ian and thank the federal, state and local officials working around the clock to provide life-saving assistance, restore power, distribute food and water, removing debris and beginning rebuilding efforts,” Jean-Pierre told reporters at the White House.
DeSantis and Biden have publicly put aside sharp political differences during the response to Hurricane Ian, which hit Southwest Florida as a deadly Category 4 storm last week.
The two leaders have talked at least three times by phone about relief efforts. DeSantis expects to tour Sanibel Island in Lee County on Wednesday. He toured Pine Island on Tuesday.
President Biden will meet with DeSantis in Florida as he surveys Hurricane Ian damage
DeSantis and Biden have publicly put aside sharp political differences during the response to Hurricane Ian.
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