Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s latest foray into disaster response is about as exciting as watching paint dry, with a side of aerial sightseeing. The White House has announced that Biden will be taking a plane ride over North Carolina on Wednesday to assess the damage from Hurricane Helene, which just so happens to be laying waste to the state like a poorly aimed cannonball. Apparently, the roads have sustained so much damage that a safe motorcade isn’t possible, so Biden will settle for an exclusive view of devastation from 30,000 feet. This isn’t exactly the hands-on leadership the country was promised, but flying over disaster zones is apparently the new trend in disaster visits.
Biden intends to stop by the State Emergency Operations Center for a meeting before embarking on his high-flying tour of destruction. His grand approach to disaster management includes reassuring everyone that his presence won’t interfere with relief efforts. He proclaims he wouldn’t want to “interrupt access to help”—as if taking a stroll through the rubble is the equivalent of swinging by for a cup of coffee at the local cafe. Instead, he’ll be on a scenic flight while claiming he’s doing it all in the name of support. Brilliant strategy, or just a convenient excuse to keep his feet off the worn-out ground?
Florida is literally carrying more weight than the federal government
They are running flights, sending personnel and resources to North Carolina. Biden and Kamala are nowhere to be seen, while NC must wait.
Trump is visiting Georgia too. Major GOP show of leadership. https://t.co/F8vhCmKeIN
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 30, 2024
Meanwhile, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is busy thanking Biden for the “federal support” he’s so generously offering from his comfortable seat miles above the destruction. It’s reminiscent of those charity telethons where the stars donate generously from their luxury spas. Hurricane Helene is no small inconvenience, causing more than 100 fatalities, but why take a deep dive into a disaster zone when you can just outline relief efforts in a nifty PowerPoint presentation from the air?
In the aftermath of Biden’s flight plan, former President Donald Trump also stepped in on the action, making an appearance in Valdosta, Georgia, just in time to stir the pot. Some were miffed that his visit might detract from the attention needed by those affected by Hurricane Helene, but local leaders remained diplomatic. After all, a little star power never hurt anyone—even if it disrupts aid efforts. Trump countered by claiming that Biden had ghosted Governor Brian Kemp, leaving the man in a lurch. However, Governor Kemp was quick to clarify that Biden did, in fact, call him and was open to directly discussing the state’s needs. Who knew coordination among presidents could be so complicated?
While Biden may be soaring through the sky, Vice President Kamala Harris is still waiting in the wings, eager to join the aerial party. She also touched base with Governors Kemp and Cooper, promising to survey the destruction when it’s convenient. Her concern for not disrupting ongoing relief efforts is admirable—though one might wonder if she could have handled it differently without waiting for that golden moment to swoop in.
The entire debacle unfolds like a political soap opera, with both sides casting shade and scrambling to do damage control, all while those who have lost everything cling to whatever assistance they can muster. With the scenario featuring aerial photography and a cross-state tour, one might start to wonder if disaster response has become less about the victims and more about the optics. As Americans witness this unfolding disaster narrative, the question becomes: when will the political leaders learn that being a good neighbor means more than just flying over the neighborhood?
