Biden calls Hurricane Ian an 'American crisis'

US President Joe Biden said Hurricane Ian "is likely to be among the worst in the history of the nation" and constitute a crisis for the nation, referring to the powerful storm that devastated Florida this week and formed again on Friday in the Atlantic to hit South Carolina again.

"It's not a crisis for Florida," Biden said.

This is an American crisis... My message to the people of South Carolina is simple: Please listen to all warnings and directions from local officials and follow their instructions."

Ian reached Florida on Wednesday as a powerful Category 4 hurricane and hit South Carolina on Friday as a Category 1 storm.

Biden has issued major disaster declarations for Florida and separate disaster declarations for 13 Florida counties, to ensure that the federal government pays for all the cost of removing debris from the storm.

The US President also declared a state of emergency for South Carolina, allowing federal rescuers to be stationed in the state before the hurricane reached it.

"Every minute counts," Biden added. "The rebuilding process will take months, years."

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news