Livestream: Biden Surveys Hurricane Ian Disaster Zone In Florida Visit

FLORIDA — Political adversaries Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis have avoided any extensive conversations following Hurricane Ian's striking Florida as a Category 4 hurricane.

That is expected to change Wednesday when the president and First Lady Jill Biden fly to Florida to survey the areas impacted most by Hurricane Ian last week. (You can watch Biden's remarks this afternoon via the livestream link at the bottom of this story.)

Biden and DeSantis spoke briefly several times before and after the storm made landfall near Fort Myers.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed at a press briefing Tuesday that Biden will meet with the Republican governor to look over the storm damage in Fort Myers.

During the visit, Jean-Pierre said Biden will also meet with small business owners and residents affected by the historic storm, as well as search-and-rescue teams and first responders to thank them for their efforts in the hurricane's aftermath.

She said Biden also plans to get a briefing from Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell on the recovery efforts.

Jean-Pierre said she didn't know the extent of the interaction that will take place between the president and governor, who have been publicly antagonistic toward one another over Biden's U.S. border policies, which DeSantis calls lax.

Most recently, Biden blasted DeSantis for ordering that 100 political refugees from Venezuela be flown from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, to prevent them from settling in Florida.

• Related: DeSantis Migrant Flights: Investigation Sought Into Public Money Spent

"Obviously, the president laid out his concerns and outrage by the stunt," Jean-Pierre said. "There will be plenty of time to discuss differences between the president and the governor, but now is not the time."

Biden reiterated Jean-Pierre's remarks on Monday.

"As I've made clear: At times like these, our nation comes together, put aside our political differences and get to work," Biden said. "We show up when we're needed. Because if we lost our home, if we lost a loved one, we'd hope that people would show up for us as well."

In advance of Biden's visit, every Democrat from Florida's congressional delegate signed a joint letter of thanks to Biden on Friday after Congress voted for a continuing resolution to fund $18.8 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund.

This federal funding will supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts across the state, as well as provide funding for individuals in several of the hardest-hit counties, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said.

Castor noted that 230 members of Congress voted for the resolution.

"This is a lifeline for our neighbors, but the road to recovery will be long and we will need your continued partnership," the Florida delegation wrote to Biden.

They also thanked him for his declaration of Florida as a disaster zone, which unlocked FEMA disaster assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts across the state.

Biden followed up Wednesday morning by making additional disaster assistance available to Florida by authorizing an increase in the level of federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

Under the president’s order Wednesday, the time period for 100 percent federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, has been extended for an additional 30-day period.

The president and first lady are scheduled to arrive in Fort Myers at 12:45 p.m. and speak to reporters at 1 p.m. They will then survey the storm-damaged area by helicopter.

At 2 p.m., the president and first lady will receive a briefing from federal, local and state officials on current response and recovery efforts, and then meet with small business owners and residents impacted by Hurricane Ian at 2:35 p.m.

At 3:15 p.m., President Bide plans to address the people of Florida and renew his pledge to help the state recover and rebuild following the devastating hurricane.

The president and first lady then will leave Fort Myers and head back to Andrews Air Force Base.

Floridians can livestream the president's remarks here.