Biden closely follows US passage of storm Hilary

New York, Aug 20 (EFE).- United States President Joe Biden said he is monitoring the passage of storm Hilary, currently hitting California, adding that his administration has provided help to deal with the emergency.

Biden said his administration took steps to prepare for the weather front as soon as it was forecast to make landfall in the US.

The president has been criticized for his response to the worst fire in US history that devastated the Hawaiian island of Maui, where there are 114 dead and a thousand missing.

Among these measures, he said the Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed personnel and supplies to California to be sent to affected communities and that the Coast Guard has aircraft in strategic positions to allow rapid response and search and rescue efforts.

The US National Hurricane Center issued a “catastrophic flooding” watch due to heavy rains.

“My administration also deployed federal personnel in Nevada to ensure that the state has additional support, and we will continue to coordinate with California, Nevada and Arizona the resources they may need,” he said in a statement. He also said he spoke Sunday with California Governor Gavin Newsom on measures taken to prepare for emergencies.

“My Administration stands ready to provide additional assistance as requested. I urge people to take this storm seriously and listen to state and local officials,” he said. EFE

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