Over the weekend, we saw absolute devastation along the southeast coast of the United States as the fallout from Hurricane Helene comes into focus. This was a massive, massive weather event that absolutely devastated hundreds of thousands of Americans across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida and could also have major political implications just weeks away from the presidential election.
At least 115 people have lost their lives so far, and they are just beginning to go through the rubble. In western North Carolina, hundreds of people remain unaccounted for at this hour as a result of the catastrophic flooding and damage. In some towns, there is just nothing left. Thousands of homes and roads, including major highways and bridges, washed away. Some of the roads and bridges FEMA needs to do its job are not there anymore.
Reports indicate millions remain without power, water, or reliable communications. Electricity could be out a week or longer in some areas, and emergency services are stretched far too thin. This has already proven to be among the deadliest U.S. hurricanes in the last 50 years.
Former President Donald Trump is heading to Georgia this afternoon to be briefed on the damage Gov. Brian Kemp. The governor flew over parts of Georgia on Monday to survey the damage and said the amount of devastation so far inland was unprecedented and “looks like a 250-mile wide tornado has hit.”
Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, is coming off a West Coast campaign swing and was traveling back to Washington, DC, this morning to be briefed by FEMA. According to Politico, she will visit the region when the time is right. We’ve heard little from her on the matter other than social media posts and a brief mention at her Las Vegas rally on Sunday.
President Joe Biden spoke this morning about it from the White House, saying he has activated FEMA and the National Guard. He signed disaster declarations in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and says he is going to visit the area as soon as possible.
Biden spent the weekend in Delaware at his beach house. But, great, I’m glad that now that it is Monday and we are between the hours of 11am and 4pm, he is actually taking it seriously. I’m sorry, but get off your beach and get to work. He says he wants to avoid being a distraction and, therefore, expects to visit the region later this week.
I am just going to say it: I don’t believe him. I don’t believe he is worried about being a distraction. Yes, that can be an issue with presidents. But I believe he is tired. He didn’t get off his ass until late in this crisis when, finally, he was told it’s an election year. At that point, he did what any president would do. But I don’t believe he even has the wherewithal to want to travel or go down there.
You can check out Megyn’s full analysis by tuning in to episode 901 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.