Biden declares major disaster in Florida following Hurricane Idalia

US President Joe Biden has formally declared a major disaster in Florida in response to Hurricane Idalia, the White House announced Thursday, Report informs via CNN.

“The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, and Taylor,” the White House said in a statement.

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 storm and has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it makes its way up the East Coast, causing flooding, significant property damage and power outages across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Biden spoke with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by phone earlier Thursday to inform him of the declaration.

“This morning, President Biden called Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to convey that he has signed a Major Disaster Declaration and ordered all available federal resources to help with the continued response to Tropical Storm Idalia,” the White House said in a statement.

The statement added, “The president reiterated that the people of Florida have his full support as they recover from the storm.”