President Biden lastly linked with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday night time as Hurricane Ian barrels in the direction of the Sunshine State — and the Republican later thanked Biden for the federal authorities’s assist.
Earlier within the day, Biden referred to as three Florida mayors whose cities are anticipated to face the wrath of the storm earlier than lastly touching base with DeSantis, a possible presidential candidate in 2024. The speak between the 2 nationwide figures got here as Ian nears the Florida peninsula and might turn out to be a Class 4 hurricane.
Biden and DeSantis each mentioned “the steps the Federal authorities is taking to assist Florida put together for Hurricane Ian,” mentioned White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a tweet.
“The President and the Governor dedicated to continued shut coordination.”
DeSantis, a vocal critic of Biden’s White Home tenure, informed Fox Information anchor Sean Hannity Tuesday night time he was appreciative of the federal help to this point.
“What I mentioned at present is my telephone line’s open, when individuals’s lives are in danger like this all of us must work collectively no matter occasion strains,” DeSantis mentioned.
He mentioned additional assist from the feds would possible be geared towards particular person help as soon as the impression of the hurricane is absolutely clear.
“It’s my sense that the administration needs to assist,” DeSantis mentioned. “I believe they notice that this can be a actually vital storm.”
Earlier than reaching out to the first-term governor, Biden phoned Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard. Castor and Welch are Democrats, whereas Hibbard is a Republican.
Throughout her common press briefing, Jean-Pierre mentioned Biden held separate calls with the three mayors and “mentioned planning and preparation for Hurricane Ian.”
She added that Biden additionally “underscored his dedication to the individuals of Florida and made clear that impacted communities can have the total help of the federal authorities to enhance state and native emergency response efforts.”
Federal Emergency Administration Company Administrator Deanne Criswell and DeSantis had been in contact Friday on the behest of the president.
She insisted to reporters that politics has no function in helping states going through disasters.
“We're going to help no matter Gov. DeSantis asks of us,” Criswell mentioned on the briefing.
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