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President Trump chats with Florida Governor Rick Scott after arriving at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to examine the damage caused by Hurricane Michael. (Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)
Felicia Sonmez
National Journalist in the Washington Post Political Press Team
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump travel through areas of Florida and Georgia devastated by Hurricane Michael, while hundreds of thousands of residents remain without electricity and that one long and slow recovery effort is underway.
The President and the First Lady arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Okaloosa County, Florida on Monday morning. They were greeted by Gov. Rick Scott (right), William "Brock" Long, FEMA Administrator, Rep. Matt Gaetz (right) and other officials.
"Rick Scott, your governor, has done an incredible job, and all your people have been great: working with FEMA, working with first responders and always enforcing the law," Trump said before boarding 39, a helicopter to inspect the damage zones. He noted that the storm was so intense that the homes of some residents had been completely washed away.
"Some of them have no trace of home. You would not even know it, "said Trump, adding that the government's priority was to provide food, energy and security to those concerned.
[As Hurricane Michael recovery begins, telecommunications, electrical power still an issue in Florida Panhandle]
Scott thanked Trump, who, he said, had "managed to do exactly what he said he was going to do."
The Trumps then flew over devastated parts of Mexico Beach and Panama City, Florida. Mexico Beach is a tiny town almost washed away by the storm; The president's helicopter ride took him to a scene of debris on Monday, which included thousands of uprooted trees, an overturned water tower, and houses torn from their foundations. The road also took him to Tyndall Air Force Base, which was damaged by the storm.
After the helicopter tour, President, First Lady Scott and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen inspected a street of damaged homes in the nearby town of Lynn Haven. President Trump shook hands and talked with locals; he was accompanied by Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson.
The White House has not provided details of the areas that Trump and the first lady should visit later on Monday afternoon.
[‘ It’s all gone’: Tiny Florida beach town nearly swept away by Hurricane Michael]
Hurricane Michael touched down Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, devastating parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The storm has killed at least 18 people, a number authorities say will likely increase as emergency teams work to reach some of the hardest hit areas.
Scott noted Sunday, while he was performing a third day in the area with Long, that one of the most frustrating problems is that of telecommunications.
Since Thursday, 17,000 public service workers have arrived to rebuild and repair infrastructure, as well as 2,000 employees of a mobile phone company and 18,000 search and rescue agents in the region.
Patricia Sullivan contributed to this report.
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