Storm Henri news – Biden gives update on response after system makes landfall over Rhode Island
Tropical storm Henri - downgraded from a hurricane this morning - has made landfall near the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, on the border with Connecticut.
Coastal residents in New England have boarded up their windows, stocked up on supplies, and prepared their generators, local media report. The storm is expected to track to the northwest as it moves inland with more heavy rain and flooding expected.
New York City remains under a state of emergency, announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio last night, as residents were lashed with torrential downpours that broke records.
President Joe Biden provided an update on the federal government’s response on Sunday afternoon, having already approved declarations of emergency for New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
More than 50 million people were put on weather alerts by authorities, according to CNN — more than 12 million under a storm surge warning, 5 million under a hurricane warning, and 37 million under a tropical storm warning.
Flooding seen in Ocean Beach, Fire Island
Flooding has been seen in the resort community of Ocean Beach on Fire Island.
Biden remarks on Henri
Updating the American people on the federal government response to Henri, President Joe Biden said that while the system had been downgraded from a hurricane the region impacted has already experienced heavy rainfall in recent weeks.
The president has already approved disaster declarations for New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and directed Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to respond with its full resources.
Resources have been pre-positioned in the affected area by FEMA including food, water, life-saving communications equipment, and generators.
Mr Biden also reminded people not to forget the dangers of the Delta variant of Covid-19 and said that if they have to relocate from their homes they should wear face masks to protect themselves and others. He also took the opportunity to urge those who have not been vaccinated to get the vaccine.
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