Biden arrives in Greenville to survey damage from Helene across Carolinas

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) – President Joe Biden will travel to the Carolinas Wednesday to see firsthand the damage from Hurricane Helene.
Air Force One touched down at 1:40 p.m. at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer.
President Joe Biden arrived Wednesday afternoon at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to survey damage to the Carolinas from Hurricane Helene.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper were at the airport to meet the president when he stepped off Air Force One.
McMaster was set to brief Biden on the state’s recovery efforts.
Marine One departed the airport shortly after 2 p.m. and Biden and Cooper were expected to take a helicopter tour to survey damage in North Carolina.
McMaster will be joined by members of the state’s congressional delegation and state leaders to visit a medical needs shelter later in the afternoon.
Gov. Henry McMaster said during a state briefing on Tuesday more people have died from Hurricane Helene in South Carolina than from Hurricane Hugo.
During a briefing Tuesday afternoon from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia, McMaster confirmed the state’s death toll from Helene had surpassed that of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Helene has been directly blamed for 36 deaths in South Carolina; Hugo had been blamed for 35.
McMaster also said that some 629,000 remained without power, but he said he expected the actual number to be lower because crews were working hard to get power restored as quickly as possible.
He did not give any specifics about his plans with Biden during Tuesday’s briefing, suggesting that the White House should be the one to release such details.
He did say that he spoke to Biden Monday afternoon after both had previously left voicemails for each other.
“So we finally connected yesterday afternoon, and he said, ‘Whatever we need, let him know’ and we’re doing that,” McMaster said. He said he had also spoken with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and a number of other governors.
McMaster said the state is getting assistance and is asking for “everything we need,” adding that the ongoing federal response has “been superb.”
Officials with the State Department of Transportation say damaged powerlines delay how quickly they can reopen roads. As of Tuesday afternoon, there are more than 450 routes that are still closed off.
State leaders say they’re also keeping a close eye on a handful of rivers that have not crested just yet. McMaster warned there will be more flooding but said it was nothing they haven’t seen before.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.