Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 2, 2024

VP pool report #1 - Departure

Hello, I'll be your pooler for today's trip to Georgia.

The motorcade pulled up to AF2 at 1:03 pm.

The VP, wearing black pants and a black jacket, exited her car and boarded shortly after. She waved at the top of the stairs.

She did not engage with the pool under the wing but came to the back of the plane for a 5 minute OTR.

We should be wheels up shortly.

VP pool report #2 - Wheels down in Georgia

AF2 was wheels up at 1:22 pm and landed at Augusta Regional Airport at 2:33 pm.

VP pool report #3 - Rolling

VPOTUS deplaned at 2:48 pm.

She shook hands and chatted briefly with Sen. Jon Ossoff, before engaging with the other officials who were waiting on the tarmac. She hugged one of them, a woman wearing a burgundy jacket.

Your pooler has asked for the names of those greeters.

She then entered her SUV and at 2:52 pm we are rolling to our next destination.

VP pool report #4 - Augusta Emergency Operations Center

At 3:05 pm the motorcade reached the Augusta Emergency Operations Center.

We were then led to a conference room where officials were seated around a large table.

There are maps pinned to the walls and a whiteboard covered with names and phone numbers.

At 3:12 pm the VP entered the room and shook hands with all in attendance, thanking them.

She then made brief remarks

"I am here to thank you and to listen" she said.

Some more quotes

" I've been reading and hearing about the work you've been doing over the last few days, and I think it really does represent some of the best of what we each know can be done, especially when we coordinate around local, state, federal resources to meet the needs of people who must be seen, who must be heard"

Your pool was ushered out and is now holding in another room.

Sharing this from the WH

Today, Vice President Harris is traveling to Augusta, GA to survey impacts of Hurricane Helene and provide updates on federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts throughout Georgia. While back in the state, she will visit the Augusta Emergency Operations Center for a briefing from local officials, meet with impacted families and business owners, and visit a food distribution center where volunteers are serving their neighbors and community.

Background on the administration's actions to support the people of Georgia:

1. President Biden approved a Major Disaster declaration for Georgia, allowing individuals in 41 counties to apply for FEMA assistance.
2. FEMA has delivered or currently shipping 2,400,000 meals, 1,200,000 liters of water, 250,000 tarps.
3. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are in the field, focusing on shelters where they will assist survivors in applying for assistance.
4. FEMA has approved more than $663,000 in individual assistance to survivors.
5. The U.S. Department of Energy has responders deployed to Georgia to assist power restoration efforts.

Also sharing this other note from the WH

Yesterday Vice President Harris spoke with Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. The Vice President received updates on ongoing response and recovery efforts and shared the Administration's commitment to providing life-saving support to impacted communities. The Vice President will be traveling to North Carolina in the coming days to survey damage, provide updates on federal response, and meet with impacted communities.

VP travel pool #5 - Command center in Augusta

At 3:38 pm VPOTUS entered another room of the same building, where a command center is set.

Approx two dozens of people were seated at tables, most of them with laptops.

VPOTUS spoke briefly, paying homage to their work.

"I wanted to just come by and say thank you all", she said.

"You all leave home. You leave family members who are in need of help and support."

"You do this work in these moments of crisis, around the clock, with an intention and with a level of care and love for community that is unmatched."

"Please take care of yourself" she said before exiting. There was applause when she left the room.

We are back in the vans and should be rolling shortly to the next stop.

VP pool #6 - visiting residential area impacted by Hurricane Helene

The motorcade left the Augusta Emergency Operations Center at 3:55 pm and came to a halt at 4:17 pm in a residential area.

The damages became more visible as we approached our destination.

At 4:21 pm VPOTUS exited her SUV, which was parked next to a downed power line, with wooden debris scattered across the road and toppled trees visible in the background, including one that fell on a house.

She approached a group of people who were waiting for her.

She spoke with a woman dressed in black, laying her hand on her shoulder, and then shook hands with a man in an orange TShirt before chatting with him.

All spoke softly and your pool could not hear what was being said.

Your pool was then led away while they were still speaking. We are holding at a distance and awaiting remarks.

More tk

On background from a White House official:

Vice President Harris is currently on the ground in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of Augusta, GA where she is joining Mayor Garnett Johnson to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene first-hand. While personally walking through this community that was hit by high winds and severe rain, she will also hear directly from a family and business owner who were impacted. In addition to hearing their stories, the Vice President will provide an update on the federal government's coordinated response and recovery efforts.

In her remarks, Vice President Harris will announce that the President has approved Governor Kemp's request for a 100 percent Federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures for three months. This will support the urgent work to address the impacts from debris removal and flooding, and will cover costs of first responders, search and rescue, shelters, mass feeding, and other emergency response activities in this critical time.

A note from the WH on our previous stop

Today, the Vice President visited a local emergency operations center in Augusta, GA where she was briefed by federal, state, and local officials.

Officials participating in the briefing:
1. Erik Hooks, Deputy Administrator, FEMA
2. Senator Jon Ossoff
3. Representative Rick Allen
4. Tameka Allen, City Administrator, Augusta, GA
5. Robert Ashe, Deputy Regional Administrator, FEMA
6. Chief Antonio Burden, Augusta Fire Department and Emergency Management Director
7. Wes Byne, Director, Augusta Utilities
8. State Rep. Gloria Frazier
9. Chuck Ray, Director of Field Operations, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)

VP pool #7 - Remarks start

VPOTUS started speaking at 4:35 pm.

Her lectern is set up in front of debris of downed trees.
In the background is a house with a fallen tree teetering atop its roof.
She started by mentioning the "extraordinary" destruction and the "devastating" loss of life in this community.

Remarks stream live at the WH website.

VP pool #8 - Remarks over, participating in food distribution

The VP wrapped at 4:41 pm.

"We are here for the long haul" she promised at the end of her remarks before concluding with a praise of unity in the face of hardship.

At 4:45 pm she was back in her SUV. There was a brief moment of confusion when VPOTUS was first led to the wrong car and nearly got in, before turning around, smiling at the incident.

After a very short ride our next stop was in front of a brick building.
Four people, three of them wearing Red Cross vests, were positioned outside, behind tables with styrofoam food containers and snacks stacked on them.

VPOTUS joined them at 4:56 pm and started handing out containers to people who were waiting in line.
She posed for selfies and photos, exchanged smiles and a few words with them but your pooler was positioned too far away to hear.

The distribution was still under way when the pool was led away at 5:05 pm.
We are holding at a distance.

VP pool #9 - Rolling to airport

There were loud cheers when VPOTUS left the food distribution operation at 5:20 pm.

At 5:21 pm we are rolling to the airport.

Some more color from this stop.

After getting their food, people would either walk away with it or sit down to eat at picnic tables nearby. A large US flag was hanging from the roof of the sheltered area where the picnic tables are.

The building has a sign saying Henry Brigham Senior Center.

Also, herewith a transcript of her remarks earlier in case useful

"I am here to personally take a look at the devastation, which is extraordinary. And it is particularly devastating in terms of the loss of life that this community has experienced, the loss of normalcy and the loss of critical resources."

Here "to get folks the support and the relief that they so desperately need and so rightly deserve."

"There is real pain and trauma that has resulted because of this hurricane."

"We are here for the long haul."

"There's a lot of work that's going to need to happen over the coming days, weeks and months. And the coordination that we have dedicated ourselves to will be long-lasting, to get families, to get residents to get neighborhoods back up and running."

"And my last point is this. I think that in these moments of hardship, one of the beauties about who we are as a country is people really rally together and show the best of who they are in moments of crisis. And we've seen that throughout the region, where communities are coming together, where people are helping perfect strangers, where they are providing food, water, shelter for their neighbors. And that neighbor may be somebody they've never met before, but are doing the work of helping each other out. And I think it really highlights the fact that the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us, and that the best of, the strength of who we are is, we come to each other's aid in a time of need. So I thank everyone for doing that kind of work every day. And with that, there is more work to be done."

"The assessment of the damage is being done across the board, and of course the highest priority is to locate and determine individuals, people who are in need and making sure we're getting to them as quickly as possible."

VP Pool #10 - Leaving Georgia

The motorcade was back at Augusta Regional Airport at 5:36 pm.

At 5:38 pm the VP exited her car, posed for photos with staff next to the plane and boarded.

We will be taking off shortly.

VP pool #11 - Additional info on meal distribution

Per the WH

Vice President Harris visited the Henry Bigham Community Center in Augusta, GA to meet with impacted families, support on-the-ground relief efforts, and distribute resources to community members in need. This center is serving as a temporary shelter where the Red Cross is also distributing three meals per day to residents.

Officials participating:
1. Erik Hooks, Deputy Administrator, FEMA
2. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
3. Robert Ashe, Deputy Regional Administrator, FEMA
4. Chuck Ray, Director of Field Operations, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
5. Mayor Garnett Johnson

VP pool #11a - Correction to meal distribution participants

The WH shares that Robert Ashe (Deputy Regional Administrator, FEMA) and Chuck Ray (Director of Field Operations, GEMA) did not participate in the meal distribution, as was stated in the previous note.

VP pool #12 - JBA

AF2 was wheels down at JBA at 7 pm. At 7:10 pm VPOTUS went down the stairs, promptly boarded her SUV, and her motorcade left.

VP pool #13 - Lid

Per the WH, the VP was back at the Naval Observatory at 7:40 pm. We now have a lid.

Have a good night!