Biden arrives in Florida to survey Hurricane Helene damage

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — President Joe Biden traveled to Perry, Florida on Thursday to see the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

▶ WATCH BIDEN’S ARRIVAL LIVE HERE

Helene made landfall near Perry last week as a devastating Category 4 hurricane.

The estimated insured losses in Florida have already reached nearly $657 million.

Read: Hurricane Helene recovery: How you can help

Reports claim at least 191 people in six states have died, including 19 in Florida.

More than 2 million customers were left without power when the storm hit.

Watch: Helene aftermath: Florida energy companies send crews to help stranded communities

A week later, nearly 20,000 people are still in the dark in the Sunshine State.

Gov. Ron DeSantis commended the efforts to get the lights back on during a press conference on Wednesday.

See: TIMELINE: Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida

“That’s really, really impressive. I mean, I think people who have lived through some of these storms in the past, you’d have, even more modest storms, people would be out a couple weeks sometimes,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said the state will continue to send reinforcements to help survivors in the Big Bend, including shower trailers, forklifts, and oxygen machines.

0 of 16