President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are actively responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in several southeastern states. Biden has visited South Carolina and North Carolina, surveying the damage and coordinating federal relief efforts, which include deploying 1,000 active-duty troops to assist with the distribution of critical supplies. Harris is visiting Georgia to provide updates on federal support for recovery efforts. The death toll from the hurricane has reached at least 162, with significant destruction in Asheville, North Carolina, and other areas. Amid this disaster, lawmakers are pressing for Congress to reconvene to pass emergency funding legislation, with bipartisan support growing for additional relief measures. The hurricane's impact has also become a focal point in the 2024 presidential campaign, with both Biden's and Harris's responses scrutinized by opponents, including Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has criticized their handling of the crisis.