[ad_1]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said Tuesday the federal government will spare no expense in response to the likely damage caused by Hurricane Florence, which is expected to hit the Carolina coast later this week.
"The Congress will be very generous because we have no choice," Trump told reporters at the White House as he met with senior officials and federal disaster officials. "Money, no matter what it takes, we will do it."
In remarks to Americans who may be in danger, the president noted that experts were predicting a storm that the east coast of the United States has not seen for decades.
"We have never seen anything like it on the East Coast," he said. "I would say everyone should go out, it will be really bad along the coast."
Federal forecasters expect the storm to hit the ground on Friday with winds of 130 km / h (215 km / h) and massive waves, with heavy rains in the interior.
The chief responsible for the government's emergency response, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brock Long, told reporters that residents of areas likely to be affected should not be under – estimate the threat of hurricane.
"This has the opportunity to be a very devastating storm," said Long. "The power will be cut for weeks, you will be moved from your house to the coastal areas and there will also be flooding in the inland areas.
"These will be statewide events, the risks will be at the state level," he added.
(Report by Jeff Mason, written by Tim Ahmann, edited by Mohammad Zargham and Leslie Adler)
