The White House is taking swift action as Hurricane Helene bears down on the southeast. In response to the Category 4 storm, President Joe Biden approved emergency disaster declarations for Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, unlocking critical federal resources. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed over 1,100 personnel to assist with search and rescue, power restoration, and medical needs across the affected states.

With flash flooding and widespread power outages expected, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell urged residents to evacuate if instructed, emphasizing that even moving 10 to 15 miles inland could be life-saving.

She also noted that the storm surge could bring up to 20 feet of water. To put that in perspective, back in 2022, Hurricane Ian caused 14 feet of storm surge resulting in massive destruction and the tragic loss of over 150 lives, due mostly to drowning.

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