President Joe Biden was seen engaged in duties on Friday from the White House, providing critical updates on the recovery efforts following the devastation left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

During the briefing, he committed to federal support and inadvertently referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "the president," creating a lighthearted moment, as Fox News reports.

President Biden shared that significant efforts are underway to restore power and remove debris, as states continue to deal with the aftermath of record-breaking hurricanes.

Biden emphasized the administration's commitment to supporting hurricane-stricken areas, including power restoration and debris clearance efforts.

The hurricanes caused massive destruction, with North Carolina reporting 92 deaths from Helene and Florida confirming at least eight fatalities due to Milton. The financial losses are immense, with Hurricane Milton alone responsible for approximately $50 billion in damage.

Massive Power Outages Plague Florida

Over 3 million people in Florida have faced power outages, but the diligent work of 50,000 pre-staged power line workers spearheaded by Gov. Ron DeSantis has resulted in power being restored to 1 million customers.

The state continues to grapple with four tornadoes that struck St. Lucie County, adding to the widespread devastation.

Biden assured the public that various federal agencies, including FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard, are actively engaged in providing aid. He also addressed misinformation circulating online, which alleged insufficient federal response to the disaster.

During the briefing, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm interrupted Biden to remind him to pass the microphone to Vice President Harris. In a humorous moment, Biden referred to Granholm as "my boss" before yielding to the vice president.

Vice President Harris Offers Virtual Update

Vice President Kamala Harris joined the briefing virtually, outlining details of ongoing recovery initiatives. She stressed the importance of coordinating resources with local and state authorities, covering essentials like food, water, medical supplies, and generators. Harris affirmed the federal government's commitment to restoring basic necessities such as water and power in the impacted areas.

Harris expressed that both she and President Biden ensure communities will have the necessary resources not only for the immediate response but also for long-term recovery efforts.

Biden Requests More Federal Funding

President Biden highlighted the need for additional funding from Congress to bolster recovery operations. He expressed the federal government's ongoing dedication to supporting affected states, stating, "We're going to need a lot of help. We need a lot more money."

Despite the collaborative efforts, DeSantis reportedly chose not to accept a phone call from Vice President Harris, citing her lack of direct involvement in the hurricane response.

DeSantis remains focused on working with FEMA and other federal entities, as he mentioned working with President Biden nonstop over the past two weeks.

Addressing Price-Gouging Concerns

Vice President Harris also discussed price-gouging issues with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to prevent exploitative practices during the disaster recovery.

In conclusion, President Biden's briefing underscored the continuous federal assistance and the administration's strategic efforts to address the massive fallout caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Power restoration, resource coordination, and combating misinformation remain at the forefront of the recovery plan, with both federal and state agencies converging to bring relief to the devastated areas.

The call for additional congressional support further emphasizes the extensive resources required to fully recover from such catastrophic events.