A group of bipartisan senators representing states affected by Hurricane Helene are requesting Congress to approve additional resources to aid in the cleanup efforts following the devastation caused by the storm. The senators are also supporting President Joe Biden’s call for an emergency session before Election Day to address the magnitude of the destruction caused by the hurricane.
The senators, representing North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, estimate that the damage caused by the hurricane will amount to tens of billions of dollars. They emphasize the urgent need for Congress to act swiftly to meet the unmet needs in their states and assist the affected constituents. The senators are advocating for an emergency session in October, as they fear that waiting until after the scheduled session in November may delay the necessary legislative action.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has resulted in at least 144 fatalities and many more missing individuals due to power outages, floods, destroyed infrastructure, and damaged buildings. President Biden has already approved disaster declarations for Florida and North Carolina and is expected to seek additional funding from Congress to address the crisis.
While some lawmakers are in favor of reconvening Congress to allocate more funding for disaster relief programs, House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that the current government funding extension, which includes $20 billion for FEMA, may be sufficient to address the immediate needs. However, this extension does not provide additional funding for disaster relief efforts, leaving some senators concerned about the lack of funding to fully address the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
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