Donald Trump has visited
communities torn up by Hurricane Irma in Florida - handing out food to
families whose homes were destroyed by the storm.
The President praised emergency crews for doing an
"amazing job" saving lives, and told reporters that power is rapidly
being turned back on throughout the state.
Mr Trump has promised to return to Florida "numerous times" as
thousands of people begin the painstaking task of rebuilding their homes
- adding that Irma's destruction was on a scale "nobody has seen
before".
The President has a special connection to the state because of his
beloved Mar-a-Lago club, and he told locals: "I just want to tell you
that we are there for you 100%. This is a state that I know very well,
as you understand."
His visit came a day after police in the
Florida town of Hollywood launched an investigation into the deaths of
eight patients at a nursing home.
Officials say conditions in the nursing home were sweltering because air conditioning had been knocked out by the storm.
The tragedy now means that more than 80 people have died because of Irma across the US and the Caribbean.
After landing in Fort Myers, the President headed to a mobile home
community for over 55s that was devastated by Irma - with piles of
debris, furniture and branches now littering the area.
Mr Trump handed out sandwiches to residents, while Vice President Mike Pence and First Lady Melania Trump offered them bananas.
Nearly 2.7 million homes and businesses - about one in four buildings - are still without power in Florida.
In Fort Myers, the President told first responders: "When you think
of the incredible power of that storm, and while people unfortunately
passed, it was such a small number.
"People thought thousands and
thousands of people may have their lives ended and the number is a very
small number, which is a great tribute to you."
Mr Trump made two visits to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey's record flooding.
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