**Vice President Kamala Harris Acknowledges Emergency Workers During Georgia Visit**

Vice President Kamala Harris visited an emergency operations center in Augusta, Georgia, on Wednesday to express her gratitude to emergency officials for their dedicated efforts during Hurricane Helene. During her visit, Harris participated in a briefing and took the opportunity to commend the officials for their unwavering service, describing their efforts as "doing God's work."

Addressing the assembled emergency workers, Harris highlighted their sacrifices, acknowledging that they often leave their own families behind to assist complete strangers in times of crisis. "You all leave home, you leave family members who are in need of help and support to go and help people who are perfect strangers to you," she said. "And you do this work in these moments of crisis around the clock with an intention and with a level of care and love for community that is unmatched. And so I'm here to thank you."

Harris' visit comes in the wake of the severe destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, offering her a firsthand look at the impact on Georgia. The trip also served as a significant moment for Harris to demonstrate her empathetic leadership, a role frequently associated with President Joe Biden, particularly during times of national tragedy. This visit comes at a pivotal moment as Harris continues to solidify her position in the final stages of her White House campaign.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris' campaign manager and her former state director in the Senate office, emphasized that Harris leverages her past experience as a courtroom prosecutor in connecting with communities affected by tragedies. Rodriguez noted that the visit to Georgia provides Harris with an opportunity to showcase her leadership and effectiveness, contrasting her approach with that of political opponents Donald Trump and JD Vance, who she says aim to dismantle essential government services.