Shownotes Transcript
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. The long cleanup and recovery is just beginning in Florida. Hurricane Milton left behind a path of damage and destruction from the state's Gulf Coast to the Atlantic. At least eight people died. Serious flooding isn't over in some communities, and power outages are widespread. The Category 3 storm made landfall Wednesday in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa.
volunteers from across the country are still in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee to help people there recovering from Hurricane Helene. It made landfall almost two weeks ago, killing more than 230 people. NPR's Jeff Brady reports on a Texas couple that's volunteered at a dozen disaster sites this year alone.
In a flooded White House near Jonesboro, Tennessee, the religious group Texans on Mission are removing a hardwood floor. Ann Neal is the chaplain. I spend a lot of time with the homeowner. I'm loving on them, listening to them, letting them tell their story.
She and her husband, Kurt Neal, joined the group after retiring. We've been to Poland, we've been to Israel, we've been to Cuba, we've been to a lot of different places. Hawaii. We were in Lahaina, Hawaii last year to help with the fires there. Just down the road, other volunteers turned a neighborhood bar into a collection and distribution center for donated supplies. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Jonesboro, Tennessee.
A disaster loan program for small businesses could run out in a matter of weeks if Congress doesn't act. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports that back-to-back hurricanes have put a major strain on current funds. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, President Biden said funding for the small business disaster loan program was right at the edge. I think the Congress should be coming back and
moving on emergency needs immediately. They're going to have to come back after the election as well. This is going to be a long haul for total rebuilding. Biden says he hasn't spoken to House Speaker Mike Johnson about bringing Congress back to take up the issue.
In a statement, the Small Business Administration said it will continue sharing information about its disaster loan programs and assisting borrowers, but if funding lapses, all new offers would be delayed until additional money is approved. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington. On the campaign trail, Vice President Harris will speak at an event in Scottsdale, Arizona today.
Donald Trump is making remarks in Aurora, Colorado. The former president is expected to focus on immigration. The city's mayor and police chief have refuted claims by Trump and others about Venezuelan gang activity in the Denver suburb. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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