By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered the deployment of 1,000 active-duty soldiers to help with response and recovery efforts in the state of North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
"As part of this coordinated response, today, President Biden is announcing he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical commodities to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene," according to s White House statement
It said the action will provide additional manpower and logistics capabilities, enabling the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other interagency partners to reach the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible.
The announcement came as Biden is set to travel to North Carolina and South Carolina later in the day.
"These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina — they have the manpower and logistical capabilities to get this vital job done, and fast," Biden said in a statement.
Helene devastated Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, causing widespread power outages and home destruction. The storm has killed at least 166 people, with hundreds still missing.