Americans have revealed they trust former president Donald Trump to handle hurricane disasters more than Kamala Harris, according to a new poll conducted by YouGov on October 8.
When asked who they thought would do a better job handling a natural disaster if elected president this year, 42 percent of respondents said Trump would do better, and 40 percent said Harris would.
Only 5 percent of respondents felt that both candidates would do an equally good job administrating aid after a natural disaster, and 13 percent were unsure.
The poll follows the destruction left by category four Hurricane Helene in Southern states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia, and as Floridians anticipate the landfall of the category five Hurricane Milton on October 9.
YouGov respondents also favored Trump’s handling of natural disasters over the current administration, as 40 percent said Trump had a better response to natural disasters during his time as president, compared to 35% who Biden had a better response.
The support for Trump’s handling of natural disasters could have an impact on many voters. In a separate question, almost one in five respondents — 18 percent — said they had to evacuate their homes due to natural disasters including wildfires, tornados, hurricanes, or floods.
Vice President Kamala Harris at the airport after landing in Charlotte, North Carolina to assess the damage following Hurricane Helene, photographed on October 5. A new poll by YouGov revealed that Americans trust Donald Trump more than Harris to handle natural disasters.
Chris Carlson/Associated Press
Newsweek reached out to a spokesperson for Harris and the White House assistant press secretary for comment via email outside of business hours.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), more than 5.5 million people received evacuation orders and were encouraged to find safety ahead of the Hurricane Milton, The New York Times reported.
Since Hurricane Helene, President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris have been traveling to the states affected to speak to residents, inform local officials about the provision of federal aid, and assess the damage.
The government has also been making provisions ahead of Hurricane Milton by “pre-positioning resources and personnel and expediting debris removal efforts in Florida,” according to a White House press release.
Both Biden and Harris also urged those instructed to evacuate to do so and have said that there is enough FEMA funding to aid those affected by both hurricanes.
Trump has been critical of Biden and Harris’ response to Hurricane Helene, and said that they are denying relief to “Republican areas,” which there is no evidence of.
Newsweek has also reached out to Trump’s campaign via email outside of business hours.
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