Biden says it will take years for Florida to recover from Hurricane Ian

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Biden says it will take years for Florida to recover from Hurricane Ian

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that it would take years, and not weeks or months, for Florida to recover from Hurricane Ian, as he visited the home state of a potential 2024 rival.

Biden said in Fort Myers that they have one job and only one job to make sure the people of Florida get everything they need to fully recover. Biden spoke after attending a briefing on Hurricane Ian recovery efforts, where he was greeted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a Republican who has been critical of the president's administration over immigration and other issues.

The IRS says that Hurricane Ian victims have until early 2023 for tax deadlines, including extensions on this year's income-tax returns.

DeSantis, a possible 2024 Republican presidential candidate, praised the White House's response to the storm ahead of Biden's arrival in the state, saying at a news conference that there has been less bureaucracy holding us back on this one than probably any other disaster recently.

Biden said DeSantis had done a good job, and that was a good job to say to reporters. Biden said that they have very different political philosophies, but they have worked hand in glove. We've been in a lockstep in dealing with this crisis. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden's Florida visit would be above politics. On Monday, the president visited Puerto Rico to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona.

Before the president left for Florida, the White House announced that he had extended federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures in the state.

The federal government will cover 100% of the costs for an extra 30 days under Biden's order.

Biden said in his remarks that his administration is working to help Florida residents with issues like housing and insurance KIE, IAK, and pledge long-lasting support from the federal government.

Biden said that we have a long road ahead of us. We are not going to leave. Now read: If Hurricane Ian destroyed your home, take these critical first steps for disaster relief and insurance.