Kamala Harris Shortens Campaign Trip to Oversee Hurricane Helene Response

Vice President Kamala Harris is cutting short her presidential campaign trip to review briefings on the federal response to Hurricane Helene. The storm has caused significant damage and fatalities across several southeastern states. Harris plans to visit the affected regions once it does not interfere with emergency operations.

Vice President Kamala Harris will partake in briefings on the federal response to Hurricane Helene on Monday, truncating her campaign trip to visit the storm-ravaged southeastern United States.

Harris is returning to Washington earlier than planned from Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was campaigning for the presidency. She will now attend briefings at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters, following criticism from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for not being more involved in the disaster response.

The storm has claimed at least 90 lives across multiple states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, and caused widespread power outages and infrastructural damage. Harris, who was briefed on the federal storm response en route to campaign stops, plans to visit the affected areas once it does not disrupt emergency operations. Meanwhile, former President Trump is visiting Valdosta, Georgia, to assess storm damage and aid in relief distribution.

Over 3,300 federal personnel are engaged in search and rescue efforts and power restoration, according to Biden administration officials.

(With inputs from agencies.)