**President Biden Mobilizes 1,000 Troops to Aid Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts**

In an urgent response to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, President Biden has ordered the immediate deployment of 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support emergency response and recovery efforts. Working in concert with Vice President Harris, the administration has prioritized life-saving initiatives and prompt access to Federal resources for those displaced by the storm.

The troops, part of an Infantry Battalion Task Force from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, will facilitate the distribution of essential supplies like food and water to the hardest-hit communities. This deployment is intended to enhance logistical support for FEMA and other interagency partners, ensuring rapid assistance to affected areas.

As the President travels through North Carolina and South Carolina, he will inspect the damage, receive briefings, and meet with local officials and first responders. President Biden is also set to visit Florida and Georgia in the coming days, while Vice President Harris will be in Georgia today to assess the situation and directly engage with those impacted.

The Department of Defense has been mobilized extensively, already activating 22 helicopters and numerous high-water vehicles to aid in search and rescue efforts. Additionally, 700 National Guard members from North Carolina, along with units from eight other states, are on the ground assisting with debris removal and road clearance.

Federal response efforts have been massive, with over 4,800 personnel deployed across the affected regions. More than 1,200 of these are stationed in North Carolina, and this number is rising daily. Urban Search and Rescue teams are also being bolstered, with nearly 600 new personnel arriving soon.

Further support has been extended by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has declared Public Health Emergencies in South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. HHS has also set up medical treatment sites in Asheville and Spruce Pine, North Carolina, and dispatched Disaster Mortuary Assistance Teams.

Efforts to restore essential services are ongoing. Power restoration teams have significantly reduced the number of outages, though 1.6 million customers remain without electricity. Telecommunications providers, alongside FEMA and the FCC, are working around the clock to reestablish cell service and communications, deploying temporary cell sites and providing satellite phones for relief efforts.

In a key housing aid move, HUD has implemented a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured mortgages in the impacted states and is offering mortgage insurance and rehabilitation financing for damaged homes. FEMA has already distributed more than $10 million in Individual Assistance, with expedited payouts in North Carolina alone reaching over $1 million to more than 1,400 households in less than 24 hours.

President Biden has also approved Major Disaster Declarations for Georgia and Virginia, making federal assistance available to additional counties. This builds on earlier declarations for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina as the administration works tirelessly to support recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene.