Hurricane Helene collides with 2024 election as Trump visits Georgia

WASHINGTON — The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene has collided with the politics of the 2024 presidential race as former President Donald Trump attacked the Biden administration's response.

It has ramped up pressure on Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia, both ravaged by flooding.

Trump on Monday visited Valdosta, Georgia, where he delivered remarks after receiving a briefing on Hurricane Helene's devastation. Trump said he brought trucks of relief aid with him to Georgia, among several Southeast states ravaged by the hurricane.

"We're not talking about politics now," Trump told reporters near a gutted store, though he later added, "we do need some help from the federal government."

More: Biden on Helene disaster: 'We're not leaving until the job is done'

Speaking at a campaign rally Sunday in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump accused Biden of "sleeping right now" while the president spent the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He mocked Harris for being at a San Francisco fundraiser Saturday "with her radical left lunatic donors, when big parts of our country have been devastated by that massive hurricane."

During his visit to Valdosta, Trump claimed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp – who did not appear the event – had not been able to reach Biden about relief efforts. Yet Kemp himself on Monday recounted a conversation he had with Biden the day before in which the president asked Kemp, "'Hey, what do you need?'"

"He offered that if there's other things we need, just to call him directly, which, I appreciate that," Kemp, a Republican, said.

Harris, who held a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, canceled other West Coast campaign stops to return to Washington on Monday to receive an afternoon briefing at FEMA headquarters. Harris spoke on Sunday to Kemp, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

More: Hard-hit areas struggling after Helene; at least 100 dead: Live updates

"The Vice President intends to visit impacted communities as soon as it is possible without disrupting emergency response operations," a White House official said.

At least 100 people are dead and more than 2 million are without power across parts of western North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Atlanta totaled more than 11 inches of rain in 48 hours, smashing a record that stood for almost 150 years. Western North Carolina took the brunt of the devastating rains, and more than 30 inches was recorded in some areas.

In Buncombe County, North Carolina, which includes battered Asheville, the wreckage has been overwhelming.

"We have biblical devastation through the county. We’ve had biblical flooding here,” said Ryan Cole, the assistant director of Buncombe County Emergency Services.

Biden, in remarks Monday from the White House, said he is "committed to traveling to the impacted areas as soon as possible" but has been told his presence would be disruptive if he went right now.

"We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis," Biden said. "I expect to be there later this week."

Biden said he spoke Sunday to Cooper, Kemp and officials from Florida, Tennessee and other states affected by the storm, calling it "not just a catastrophic storm" but a "history-making storm." FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground in Asheville, North Carolina.

"I want them to know we're not leaving until the job is done," Biden said, adding that 3,600 federal workers have been deployed to the Southeast to assist with rescue efforts and clear debris.

More: North Carolina town bands together after Helene wreaked havoc: 'That's what we do'

FEMA said it has 10 federal search and rescue teams on the ground right now with another nine teams are on the way, accounting for more than 900 FEMA employees actively in the region.

In addition to FEMA personnel, that includes members of the National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers, workers from the Federal Communications Commission to help re-establish communications capability and Defense Department officials.

"We know there's more to do. We'll continue to serve resources, including food, water, communications and life-saving equipment," Biden said.

Biden bristled at a question from a reporter on criticism that he should have remained in Washington over the weekend to command the hurricane response.

"I was commanding. I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday, and the day before as well," Biden said. "It's called a telephone."

Asked whether Trump's visit to Georgia is a disruption to recovery efforts, Biden said: "I don't have any idea."

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Hurricane Helene damage is colliding with 2024 presidential race