Harris Shortens Campaign Trip for Hurricane Helene Briefings, Reports Reuters

By Trevor Hunnicutt

LAS VEGAS – Vice President Kamala Harris is set to participate in briefings on the federal response to Hurricane Helene on Monday, altering her campaign trip to visit the storm-affected southeastern United States.

Harris will return earlier than planned to Washington from Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was campaigning for the presidency. She will be attending briefings at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters.

This change in her schedule follows criticism from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who questioned her level of involvement in the disaster response and announced his own visit to the affected region.

The storm has claimed at least 90 lives across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, while millions more are dealing with power outages and extensive road damage.

While traveling on Air Force Two to campaign events in the western U.S., Harris received a briefing on the federal storm response on Sunday. She also communicated with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and reached out to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to discuss their specific needs.

Initially, Harris had planned campaign stops in the Las Vegas area but has opted to return to Washington sooner. She intends to travel to the impacted region “as soon as it is possible without disrupting emergency response operations,” although details on her travel plans have yet to be finalized.

North Carolina and Georgia are considered critical battlegrounds in the upcoming 2024 election contest between Harris and Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump is traveling to Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday to receive a briefing on storm damage and assist in the distribution of relief supplies.

Harris’ campaign has also announced upcoming stops in Pennsylvania and Michigan later in the week. Additionally, vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance are scheduled to debate on Tuesday.

According to Biden administration officials, over 3,300 federal personnel are currently deployed for hurricane response efforts, which include search and rescue operations and efforts to restore power.