Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis does not take calls Vice President Kamala Harris About the storm recovery a week after Hurricane Helene hit parts of the state.
A source familiar with the situation said he avoided the Democratic presidential nominee’s calls because they “seemed political,” according to a DeSantis aide.
“Kamala was trying to get in touch and we didn’t answer,” a DeSantis aide told NBC News.
The same person said, “I don’t know,” when asked if DeSantis had spoken to President Joe Biden.
Last week, DeSantis said Biden called him, but he was flying at the time, so he couldn’t take the call. It was Biden In northern Florida Last week to survey the storm damage, however, DeSantis was holding a previously scheduled news conference elsewhere in the state, so they did not meet. A source familiar with the planning said the Biden team invited DeSantis to the event in north Florida.
DeSantis contacted Federal Emergency Management Director Deanne Criswell directly.
Hurricane Helene created dry land On September 27, Florida’s Big Bend storm surge ravaged parts of northern Florida and swamped cities along the Gulf Coast. Many of these cities, including the densely populated Tampa area, are still dealing with significant flood damage and debris cleanup.
After landing, Helen’s remains continued to cut a path through the Southeast. He left more than 200 dead and swamping the region, including historic flooding in western North Carolina.
Immediately following Helene, DeSantis said, “we have managed it” referring to storm cleanup and the fact that the federal government should focus on North Carolina.
Other governors offered more praise for the federal response, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he had spoken with Biden. thanked for the helpand South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, also a Republican, said that “excellent.”
In what he dubbed Operation Blue RidgeDeSantis also sent Florida resources to North Carolina, including members of the Florida National Guard and officials from several state agencies.
Those assets are now returning to Florida as the state waits for Hurricane Milton to make landfall midweek, DeSantis said over the weekend. big storm Hurricane Helene is expected to affect large areas of the state, including flooded coastal cities.
This storm is expected to reach the central Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
Two other officials from DeSantis’ office said Biden has so far made no effort to contact the governor about Hurricane Milton.
Former President Donald Trump spoke at length about Hurricane Hermene, and at times in overtly political terms. to push lie information. At one point, he posted a photo on social media of Harris receiving a storm briefing, saying, “FAKE AND FALSE.”
Trump visited Georgia in the days after the storm and appeared at an event with Kemp. He too He started a GoFundMe to help organizations doing relief work in the region.
Gabe Gutierrez contributed.