Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 5, 2024

VPOTUS Pool Report No. 1 - JBA

Good afternoon from Joint Base Andrews, I'll be your print pooler for Vice President Kamala Harris' day trip to North Carolina.

Your pool does not have additional scheduling information for our plans on the ground than what you received in the weekend guidance.

Marine 2 landed at 2:04 p.m.

Harris disembarked from M2 at 2:09 p.m. She waved and saluted. She's wearing flared jeans, a black blazer, a black top and black boots. She ignored shouted questions - including one on her meeting yesterday with Muslim and Arab American leaders. She waved at the top of the stairs.

She was on board AF2 at 2:10 p.m.

We'll be wheels up for Charlotte shortly.

VP Pool Report No. 2 - wheels down Charlotte

The vice president came to the back of the plane and gaggled for six minutes OTR with the pool.

We were wheels up at 2:29 p.m.

Air Force Two landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 3:27 p.m.

Harris walked off AF2 at 3:38 p.m.

Pool spied NC Gov. Roy Cooper, gubernatorial hopeful AG Josh Stein, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Rep. Alma Adams, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Rep. Jeff Jackson on the tarmac greeting the VP. She walked down the line speaking to each of them.

She got into the SUV at 3:43 p.m.

We are rolling as of 3:45 p.m. Location TBA.

VP Pool Report No. 3 - NC National Guard HQ

At 3:48 motorcade arrived at NC Air National Guard, which is on the grounds of the airport.

Pool didn't have eyes on Harris when she entered.

We're pre-setting in a downstairs briefing room.

More TK

VP Pool Report No. 4 - briefing spray

Harris entered the briefing room at 3:59 alongside Gov. Cooper.

The officials who greeted Harris, sans Cooper, were seated around a rectangular table, along with several other officials.

There's a FEMA map being projected that shows precipitation and urban flooding due to Hurricane Helene.

Harris walked around the table introducing herself to everyone. The mayor of Asheville, Esther Manheimer, is here.

Cooper started off the briefing.

Harris thanked this FEMA administrator and the local leaders.

"I've been seeing and hearing the stories from here in North Carolina about strangers who are helping each other out, giving people assistance in every way that they need, including shelter, food and friendship and fellowship."

She announced that Mecklenburg County had been added to the disaster declaration.

Pool was pulled out of the briefing at 4:04 p.m. It's ongoing.

More quotes TK.

VP Pool Report No. 5 - more quotes from spray

Gov. Roy Cooper spoke about how this has been a "massive unprecedented response."

"FEMA has been on the ground with us from the very beginning of this. So we look forward to briefing and giving you details about the significant progress that's happening."

Cooper said 68 people lost their lives.

Harris thanked FEMA for doing "extraordinary work."

"The work that's happening here that is to positively impacting so many people is really an example of the best we can do when we bring resources together at the federal, state and local level. And tap into the kind of collegiality that produces results."

"For the folks who are local, I also know what this means for each of you as a leader, to be a leader at a time that your own homes, your families, your friends, people you know, your community, has been directly hit," Harris said.

"I think that these moments of crisis bring out some of the best of who we could be and who we are," she continued.

She then made the shelter, food, friendship and fellowship comment.

We're being relocated outside. More TK

VP Pool Report No. 6 - guidance for today's trip

This just in from VPOTUS' office:

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris is traveling to North Carolina to receive an on-the-ground briefing about the continued recovery efforts that are occurring in communities across the state after Hurricane Helene. While in North Carolina, the Vice President will also provide updates on Federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in North Carolina and other states throughout the southeast. She will also meet with families impacted by the Hurricane and thank first responders.

She will be joined by Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and other local officials.

Background on support for North Carolina:

President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to mobilize an intensive Federal response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Administration is prioritizing life-saving and life-sustaining response efforts in impacted communities, as well as ensuring people affected by the storm have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.

Financial Support: FEMA has provided more than $26 million in housing and other types of assistance to over 25,000 households in North Carolina. The administration has also shipped more than 5,400,000 meals and 6,300,000 liters of water to the state.

Staffing: In North Carolina, more than 700 FEMA staff are on the ground, with more arriving daily. Over 1,200 Urban Search and Rescue personnel are in North Carolina helping people. As of today, these teams have rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors.

Power and Cellular Restoration: As of today, more than 74% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Nearly 8,000 crews continue to assist with remaining power restoration efforts.

VP Pool Report No. 7 - military meet-and-greet and statement

Harris walked across a tarmac to a waiting group of service members at 4:51 p.m. and walked down the line shaking their hands. They're in front of a C-17 with its belly open, with the plane's tail indicating that it's based here in Charlotte.

Gov. Cooper is with her. Pool isn't close enough to capture the conversation.

She walked over to the pool at 4:54 and made a brief statement.

"I came out to talk to the people that are doing God's work," she said.

"Many of them doing this work have been directly affected themselves," she noted.

Please check against transcript, it was very hard to hear her, as we're at an active airport.

She spoke about some of the funds going to replace 1-40.

She walked into her SUV at 4:56 p.m.

From a distance, pool can see supplies being loaded into the C-17.

We're rolling as of 5:02 p.m. Location TBA.

VP Pool Report No. 8 - donation center arrival/more background

Motorcade pulled up to Quality Comprehensive Health Center in the historic west side of Charlotte at 5:15 p.m.

Pool is stationed around a donation assembly line.

More TK

On background from a White House official:

While on the ground in North Carolina, Vice President Harris received a comprehensive briefing from local, state, and federal officials about the continued recovery efforts that are occurring in communities across the state following Hurricane Helene. During this briefing at the North Carolina National Guard Operations Building, the Vice President heard strategic updates about getting food, water, and additional aid to families in need. Briefers also outlined the continued local, state, and federal initiatives to restore power, running water, and cellular service while coordinating a whole-of-government approach to rebuilding roads, establishing emergency shelters, and fast-tracking critical resources to hard-to-reach areas.

Vice President Harris also provided updates on Federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in North Carolina and other states across the southeast. This includes approving a Major Disaster Declaration to unlock direct support for affected individuals in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and 27 counties throughout the state, mobilizing troops and federal personnel, and shipping meals, water, and generators to impacted communities.

Following the briefing, the Vice President met with families who were impacted by this disaster. One family she met with was forced to temporarily relocate from western North Carolina to Charlotte with their six-month-old until they can safely return to their community. Another individual that the Vice President spoke with assisted in lifesaving recovery efforts during flooding in western North Carolina.

Those participating in today's briefing included:

• FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
• FEMA Region 4 Administrator Robert Samaan
• U.S. Representative Jeff Jackson
• U.S. Representative Alma Adams
• NC Governor Roy Cooper
• NC Attorney General Josh Stein
• NC National Guard Major General Allen Boyette
• NC Dept. of Public Safety Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr.
• Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer
• Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles
• Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald T. Johnson

VP Pool Report No. 9 - more background

On background from a White House official:

While on the ground in North Carolina, Vice President Harris greeted National Guardsmen who are loading military aircrafts with pallets of emergency aid to be flown to communities throughout western North Carolina that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Joined on the tarmac by North Carolina National Guard Major General Boyette and North Carolina National Guard Colonel Haley, the Vice President thanked service members for working around the clock to ensure that food, water, and other critical supplies can reach those in need.

This Charlotte Air National Guard Base is currently operating as an urgent air bridge – receiving and sorting supplies from across the country, loading them onto aircrafts, and strategically deploying the aircrafts to areas in need.

Vice President Harris also reiterated that the Biden-Harris Administration is supporting these efforts by unleashing a whole-of-government approach to rush resources to impacted communities and support recovery initiatives. This includes authorizing the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers, deploying more than 6,400 federal personnel to support response efforts across impacted states, and shipping more than 13.2 million meals, 13.4 million liters of water, and additional aid.

VP Pool Report No. 10 - making care packages

At 5:23 p.m. Harris stepped out and walked over to where they're bagging supplies.

"OK, you're going to put me right to work."

"What's going on with your family?" she asked a woman who said she was from Asheville.

"We're here for the long haul," Harris assured the woman.

Charlotte's Mayor Lyles is here.

"Our young leaders here," she said introducing herself to two young woman at the end of the line.

Harris has been tasked with adding deodorant and soap to the care packages being made.

"I will slow down," she said laughing at one point.

"So you have different sources of donations for this effort?" Harris asked.

A woman in a green t-shirt explained how the process worked and gestured to a woman in a violet shirt who she introduced to the VP as one of the truck drivers.

"Queen here, she really is," Harris said.

"Well you all are the heroes among us," she told the women.

At 5:30 p.m. the pool was pulled as Harris continued to chat with the volunteers and load up care packages.

VP's office said they'll get us the names of some of the women she engaged with.

More TK

VPOTUS Pool Report No. 11 - donation center details

On background from a White House official:

Following her visit to the Charlotte Air National Guard Base, Vice President Harris continued her focus on emergency aid distribution by visiting a resource donation center in Charlotte, NC. Launched by a coalition of local nonprofits, this resource center is collecting, inventorying, sorting, and packaging donations – from canned food and formula to diapers and flashlights – to be sent to communities in western North Carolina that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

The Vice President thanked volunteers for taking time out of their weekend to serve their fellow Americans. She also joined them in packaging donations and heard about similar disaster response efforts that are occurring throughout Charlotte and across North Carolina. Vice President Harris reiterated her promise that she and President Biden will be with impacted communities for the long haul, supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts for as long as it takes.

VP Pool Report No. 12 - rolling/IDs of volunteers

Motorcade departed at 5:46 p.m.

Here are the IDs of the volunteers:

From left to right on the assembly line with the VP were Stacey Carless (in green), Vice President Harris, Melissa Funderburk (in violet, the truck driver), Angelica Wind (volunteer who said she was from Asheville, in cerulean), Mayor Vi Lyles and Sade Hobson. The White House did not provide the names of the minors.

We're en route to the airport.

VP Pool Report No. 13 - Charlotte Douglas

Motorcade pulled up to Air Force Two at 5:58 p.m.

Harris got out of her SUV at 6:01 p.m.

She took a picture with volunteers.

She came over to a question about her views on the response.

It was extremely hard to hear. Will get better quotes. But I did hear this snippet:

"Some of the most generous have the least to give."

Was on board at 6:02 p.m.

We'll be wheels up shortly.

VP Pool Report No. 14 - more quotes

Here are more quotes - please check against transcript.

"They've been doing extraordinary work."

"It's about communities bonding and taking care of one another even though they may be perfect strangers to each other."

"I have always found in my life and career that some of the people who are the most generous have the least to give and give everything they can to take care of each other."

"And so we are seeing the heroes among us and I am very grateful for all the folks who are doing this work on the ground."

VP Pool Report 15

Air Force Two was wheels up at 6:19 p.m.

We were wheels down JBA at 7:11 p.m. The flight was uneventful.

Harris disembarked from AF2 at 7:23 p.m. She waved at pool before turning and walking toward Marine Two.

She boarded M2 at 7:24 p.m.

M2 lifted off at 7:28 p.m.

Thanks to the BBC's Rebecca Hartman for an audio assist today.

I'll send one more report when she's wheels down.

VP Pool Report No. 16 - lid

The VP arrived at the Naval Observatory at 7:44 p.m.

We have a lid. Have a great rest of your weekend!