Joe Biden visits the Carolinas to survey Hurricane Helene damage

President Joe Biden on Wednesday visited areas in North and South Carolina that have been badly impacted by Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 160 people last week.

The storm hit the Southeast on Thursday as a major Category 4 hurricane. It made landfall in Florida, before moving to Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. North Carolina appears to be the hardest hit among southeastern U.S. states.

Biden's visit to the region comes after former President Donald Trump visited Georgia on Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris also visited the Peach State on Wednesday, and is expected to visit North Carolina soon, NBC News reported. Biden is expected to visit Florida and Georgia on Thursday.

The president also authorized on Wednesday sending 1,000 troops from the Department of Defense down to disaster areas impacted by the hurricane, in order to help with the distribution of food, water and other supplies.

“These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina — they have the manpower and logistical capabilities to get this vital job done, and fast,” Biden said in a statement. “They will join hundreds of North Carolina National Guard members deployed under State authorities in support of the response.

“Hurricane Helene has been a storm of historic proportion,” Biden continued. “My heart goes out to everyone who has experienced unthinkable loss. We are here for you — and we will stay here for as long as it takes.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.