Joe Biden pledges 'all the assistance that’s needed' after Hurricane Ida

The storm’s remnants dropped devastating rainfall across parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people and causing significant disruption to major population centres

Louisiana National Guard troops place water and MREs into the back of cars at the Shrine on Airline on Wednesday, September 1. Picture: Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP

Joe Biden has said his administration is “ready to provide all the assistance that’s needed” in response to a massive wildfire in California and to Hurricane Ida, which knocked out power and wreaked havoc along the Gulf Coast before causing deadly flooding and tornadoes in the north east.

Ida was the fifth most powerful storm to strike the US when it hit Louisiana on Sunday with maximum winds of 150mph, causing tens of billions of dollars in flood, wind and other damage, including to the electrical grid.