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President Joe Biden has announced plans to visit North Carolina on Wednesday to assess the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which he has termed "the worst ever." During his visit, Biden will receive a briefing at the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh and conduct an aerial survey of Asheville. He emphasized that landing directly in Asheville would disrupt emergency efforts on the ground, prompting his decision for an aerial tour. Following North Carolina, Biden intends to visit Georgia and Florida as soon as feasible.

The hurricane has resulted in over 100 fatalities, according to an NBC News tally, with at least 40 deaths occurring in Buncombe County, North Carolina, where Asheville is located. Many residents are facing severe hardships without access to running water, electricity, or cellphone and internet services. Biden characterized the storm damage as "tragic" and noted the administration's efforts to reconcile differing fatality numbers reported by FEMA and local authorities.

The President's upcoming visit follows guidance from FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who has been actively assessing the hurricane's impact, having already surveyed damage in Florida and Georgia. The White House confirmed that Biden has been briefed on the situation by Criswell and Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall, and has approved emergency disaster declaration requests for several affected states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia.

Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, for what he described as a lackluster response to the hurricane. Trump claimed that Biden was absent from the disaster zones and that Harris was preoccupied with fundraising in San Francisco. Trump himself visited Valdosta, Georgia on Monday.

In contrast, Harris visited FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday for a briefing and expressed gratitude to agency staff for their dedication. She also discussed the situation with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and pledged that the administration would continue providing necessary support and resources to affected communities.

Addressing further criticisms, Biden refuted Trump's claims that Governor Kemp had been unable to reach him regarding storm damage. Biden asserted that he had spoken with Kemp, who confirmed that the President had offered the state's assistance. Biden deemed Trump's comments as "irresponsible" and emphasized the importance of clear and truthful communication during such crises.

In addition to speaking with Governor Kemp, Biden has also been in contact with Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to discuss ongoing recovery efforts and ensure continued federal support for the impacted regions.