Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 30, 2024

VP Travel Pool Report #1 — Rolling to airport

Greeting from Las Vegas where our stay got abruptly cut short so VP Harris can return to DC and attend FEMA briefings on the devastation wrought by Helene.

We are rolling from RON to Harry Reid International Airport at 8:47.

Your pooler did not lay eyes on the VP leaving the RON or entering the limo.

VP Travel Pool Report#2 — Airport Arrival

The motorcade arrived at the Las Vegas Airport at 8:49.

VP Travel Pool Report #3 — VP boards plane

VP Harris stepped out of limo at 8:51 and official entered AF2 a few seconds later. She did not acknowledge questions shouted at her by the pool.

VP Travel Pool Report #4 — Wheels up

AF2 wheels up back to JBA at 9:09

VP Travel Pool Report #5 — Wheels down at JBA

AF2 is wheels down at JBA at 4:15 pm EST

VP Pool Report #6 — Arrival

Please note that I dropped "travel" from the subject line because are back in town.

VP Harris stepped off the plane at 4:29

She entered the limo at 4:30

She did not respond to shouted questions from the press about the Middle East crisis

VP Pool Report #7 - Rolling to FEMA HQ

The motorcade is rolling to FEMA HQ at 4:32.

VP Pool Report #8 — Arrival at FEMA

The motorcade arrived at FEMA HQ at 4:50

The ride through DC rush hour was uneventful though we zipped through DC traffic with cars on both sides of the motorcade on 395.

We are tracking remarks from the VP around 5:10/5:15.

VP Travel Pool Report #9 — Remarks begin

Forgive the lateness, internet is spotty at FEMA HQ

VP Harris' remarks began at 5:02. She spoke alongside Erik hooks deputy administrator of FEMA.

Here are some remarks

She thanked FEMA workers for all their hard work.

"I have received regular briefings on the impact of Hurricane Helene."

"We will do everything in our power to help communities recover."

She promised to be "on the ground as soon as possible."

"Major roads have been blocked leaving entire towns inaccessible."

She called the devastation "heartbreaking" and vowed that POTUS and her will make sure the impacted communities "will get what they need to recover"

"The true character of the nation is revealed in moments of headship."

"We have responded with our best."

"Moments like this remind us that we have so much more in common than what separates us."

"I thank you all here for

VP Pool Report 10 - Addressing FEMA workers

After her public remarks, VP Harris addressed the FEMA workers briefly. She then walked around the room shaking hands and thanking them for their work.

Here are some remarks. A pool spray briefing is next on schedule

"Thank you for all that you are doing. "

"You are the best if anything we can hope for this county"

She acknowledged that the work "takes a lot out of you," addressing the FEMA workers

VP Pool Report #11 - Background

On Background from a White House Official:

This afternoon, while on board Air Force Two, Vice President Harris continued to speak with leaders from states impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The Vice President spoke with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Mayor Knox White of Greenville, SC, Mayor Van Johnson of Savannah, GA, and reached out to Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, FL. In her conversations, the Vice President received updates on response and recovery efforts, and shared how the Administration will continue providing support to impacted communities for as long as it takes.

The Vice President also spoke with International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) leadership to express her gratitude for the firefighters and first responders across the country working around the clock on rescue and recovery efforts.

VP Pool Report 12 — Spray

VP Harris has a quick pool spray at FEMA HQ

She sat at the head of a long wooden table with other FEMA officials sitting alongside the table.

VP Harris shook the hand of each official attending the event and thanked them for their work.

VP Harris didn't respond to questions but immediately gave a noticeable frown when asked by a reporter if the response to Helene is being politicized.

"Thank you for showing up for us," deputy FEMA Erik Hooks told her.

The press was immediately escorted out and VP Harris did not make any remarks in front of reporters.

VP Pool Report #13 — VP departs FEMA

The VP departed via motorcade FEMA at 5:53

The pool stayed behind in our pool van bc we are headed to JBA to pick up our bags. We will not see her enter the residence, which we are told is the next stop.

As keeping with her practice this entire pool swing VP Harris did not answer/respond to questions from the press.

VP Pool Report 14 — Arrival at Residence

Per the WH, the VP arrived at her residence in DC at 6:02.

VP Pool Report# 15 — Background on FEMA briefing

On background from a White House official:

Vice President Harris visited FEMA headquarters where she received a follow up briefing on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene and the Federal actions being taken to support emergency response and recovery. While at FEMA headquarters, the Vice President thanked FEMA employees for their work to support impacted communities.

Throughout her career, Vice President Harris has worked directly with FEMA and local officials on hurricane response and recovery, including support for numerous disaster relief supplementals as U.S. Senator, on the ground meetings in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria to discuss relief efforts, travel to Houston after Hurricane Beryl to meet with impacted communities, and briefings at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Today's briefing from personnel involved in relief efforts included:

• Roy Cooper, North Carolina Governor (virtual)
• Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator (virtual)
• Erik Hooks, FEMA Deputy Administrator
• Jenna Peters, FEMA Deputy Chief of Staff
• Keith Turi, FEMA Associate Administrator (Acting), Office of Response and Recovery
• Leiloni Stainsby, FEMA Deputy Associate Administrator (Acting), Office of Response and Recovery
• Matthew Payne, FEMA Deputy Assistant Administrator, Response Directorate
• Colt Hagmaier, FEMA Assistant Administrator, Recovery Directorate
• Justin Knighten, FEMA Associate Administrator, Office of External Affairs
• Lucas Hitt, FEMA Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of External Affairs
• Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator
• Mary Comans, FEMA Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
• Michael George, FEMA Associate Administrator, Office of National Continuity Programs
• Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator (SOPDO), Resilience

Background on the Administration's continued response to Hurricane Helene:

Approving Major Disaster Declarations

President Biden approved a Major Disaster declaration for South Carolina yesterday, allowing survivors to immediately access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery. This is in addition to approving declarations for Florida and North Carolina earlier in the weekend.

FEMA assistance in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.

Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.

People in 17 counties in Florida, 25 counties in North Carolina and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as 13 counties in South Carolina can now apply for assistance with FEMA. People can apply in four ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362, on the FEMA App, or via disaster recovery centers.

Emergency declarations were also approved for Florida, North Carolina Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct Federal support to states for life saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue.

Supporting On-The-Ground Response Efforts

As of today, more than 3,500 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed and supporting Hurricane Helene response efforts across the impacted states. This includes the most experienced incident management teams to help identity Federal resources to address unmet needs, as well as Urban Search and Rescue personnel using high water rescue equipment for rescue missions across the region.

Search and rescue efforts by state, local and Federal partners are ongoing, and hundreds of additional personnel are arriving in the region in the coming days. Over 1,250 Urban Search and Rescue personnel are deployed across Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Together with local and state responders, teams have rescued or supported more than 1,900 people, including nearly 900 in North Carolina.

Restoring Power to Impacted Communities

At least 50,000 personnel from 34 states and the District of Columbia and Canada are responding to power outages and working around the clock throughout parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to restore power to those communities that can receive power. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving generators and additional power restoration assets into the hardest hit areas of South and North Carolina as flood waters recede and debris removal allows. As power is being restored throughout parts of Florida and Georgia, power crews are being moved into other states to assist with their restoration efforts. Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicles are in place to support responder communication and assist impacted communities. We are working with private sector partners to augment and restore cellular services in several states.

In North Carolina, 40 Starlink satellite systems are available to help with responder communications and an additional 140 satellites are being shipped to assist with communications infrastructure restoration. One Starlink will be deployed per county Emergency Operations Center to assist with communications.

Power outage numbers are improving as restoration teams gain access to communities and debris is removed. As of this morning, approximately 2.1 million customers are without power, down more than 54% from the region-wide peak of 4.6 million on September 27.

VP Pool Report #16 — lid

A lid was called at 8:01. Have a great night everyone.