DeSantis declines call from VP Harris as Biden-Harris Administration ramps up Hurricane Milton support

As Hurricane Milton intensifies and heads toward Florida’s western coast, the Biden-Harris administration is ramping up efforts to support the state.

As residents prepare for the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Milton, the Biden-Harris administration extended support to Florida. However, Governor Ron DeSantis declined a call from Vice President Kamala Harris offering assistance.

Gov. DeSantis has been avoiding calls from Vice President Harris regarding storm recovery efforts, following the impact of Hurricane Helene on Florida in late September. According to a source familiar with the situation, DeSantis declined to take Harris’ calls because they were perceived as politically motivated, according to one of his aides. 

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The aide told NBC News, “Kamala was trying to reach out, and we didn’t answer.” When asked if DeSantis had spoken to President Joe Biden, the same aide responded, “not to my knowledge.”

As Hurricane Milton intensifies and heads toward Florida’s western coast, the Biden-Harris administration is ramping up efforts to support the state. The storm became Category 5 this morning.

Many communities are still recovering from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene just two weeks ago. The federal government is coordinating closely with state and local officials to ensure a rapid response to Milton’s potential impacts.

President Biden approved DeSantis’ request for an emergency declaration. This will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide immediate support for critical life-saving activities, including evacuations, shelter operations, and search and rescue missions. The declaration enables federal resources to be deployed quickly to areas most likely to be affected by Milton, which is expected to bring dangerous storm surges and heavy rainfall.

According to reports, DeSantis has been in direct contact with FEMA director, Deanne Criswell.

FEMA has already pre-positioned personnel and resources in Florida to respond as soon as Hurricane Milton makes landfall. The agency has dispatched six Incident Management Assistance Teams, five Urban Search and Rescue Teams, and numerous other emergency response units to the state. Additionally, 300 ambulances and 30 high-water vehicles from the Department of Defense are ready for deployment. Essential supplies, including 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water, are also staged to support both ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and the anticipated impacts from Milton.

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In Tampa, where the threat of a severe storm surge is particularly high, officials are racing to remove debris left by Helene. FEMA is working closely with the state to expedite debris removal before Milton’s arrival to reduce the risk of further damage. State-run debris management sites are operating 24/7, with contracted trucks delivering debris around the clock.

President Biden and the administration have been in direct contact with officials across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to ensure they are fully prepared for Milton. With nearly 900 federal personnel already on the ground supporting recovery efforts from previous storms, the federal government is mobilizing additional resources to ensure a swift and effective response to this new threat, which is expected on Wednesday.