Biden announces $600M for Florida hurricane recovery projects
- President Biden will announce $612 million in federal funding for electrical grid projects in Florida.
- Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, caused at least 16 fatalities and left over a million people without power.
- The funding aims to enhance the state's resilience against extreme weather events and improve infrastructure.
On October 13, 2024, President Joe Biden is set to visit Florida, which has recently suffered from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Milton. This storm, classified as a Category 3 hurricane, made landfall on October 9, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and leaving over a million residents without power. During his visit, Biden will announce federal funding amounting to $612 million for various projects aimed at enhancing the resilience of the electrical grid in the southeastern United States, with a focus on Florida. Among the funded initiatives, Gainesville Regional Utilities will receive $94 million to implement storm hardening measures and improve restoration efforts through advanced technology. Additionally, a collaboration between Switched Source and Florida Power and Light aims to optimize power distribution, enhancing reliability for communities prone to outages. These investments are part of a broader strategy by the Biden administration to address the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, which have been exacerbated by climate change. The funding is intended to not only restore power but also to prepare the infrastructure for future challenges. Biden's engagement with local officials, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, underscores the cooperative efforts at both state and federal levels to tackle the aftermath of the hurricane and bolster the state's resilience against future storms.