The recovery of Milton was described as a “whole-of-government effort” during Biden’s tour of destruction in the Tampa area on Sunday

TAMPA – President Joe Biden got a firsthand look at the devastation caused when Hurricane Milton cut a path of destruction through Florida last week, killing at least 21 people, knocking out power to millions of utility customers and destroying countless homes and critical infrastructure .

Viewing the destruction from both the air and on the ground, Biden spoke with local and state leaders as well as first responders and residents to discuss the disaster and what is being done to help those affected by the deadly hurricane.

Record flooding and slowly receding rivers are hitting Florida after Milton inundated the state with torrential rains

“We have been in contact frequently, and in moments like these we come together and care for each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans,” Biden said Sunday morning. “Americans who need help and Americans who would help you if you were in the same situation. We are one United States.”

During his remarks, Biden described the storm recovery effort as a “whole of government effort” from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense.

“FEMA has delivered 1.2 million meals, over 300,000 liters of water and 2 million gallons of fuel,” Biden said. “And so far we have installed 100 satellite terminals to restore communications in the affected areas so that families can contact their loved ones to make sure everything is OK and also ask for help.”

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ST PETE BEACH, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the media after a tour of the damage caused by Hurricane Milton on October 13, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Biden visited the area as it grapples with back-to-back hurricanes that have caused significant damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Over the weekend, Biden approved Florida’s disaster declaration, which now provides funding to residents and businesses affected by the storm in 34 counties and Florida’s Miccosukee Indian Tribe.

Aid can range from grants for temporary housing and home repairs to low-cost loans to cover uninsured property damage and other programs to help residents and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Millions of utility customers across Florida lost power at the height of Hurricane Milton, but thanks to the hard work of thousands of utility crews, that number fell below 900,000 by Sunday afternoon.

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ST PETE BEACH, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Joe Biden greets people during a tour of damage caused by Hurricane Milton on October 13, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Biden visited the area as it grapples with back-to-back hurricanes that have caused significant damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

“In just a few days, more than 2 million people had power restored, and thanks to the continued work of tens of thousands of energy workers across 43 states and Canada, even more people will soon have power restored.”

During his speech, Biden announced $612 million in funding for six new projects to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, including $47 million for Gainesville Regional Utilities and another $47 million for Florida Power and Light.

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“This funding will not only restore power, but also make the region’s energy system stronger and more efficient, reducing the frequency and duration of power outages and increasingly common extreme weather events,” Biden said.

Hurricane Milton struck Florida on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane with winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, a near-record storm surge and a historic tornado outbreak.