Trump: Hurricane response preparing to ‘kick into an even higher gear’

President Trump on Sunday praised the work of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and first responders in handling the initial effects of Hurricane Florence, declaring their efforts will only ramp up as the storm weakens.

“FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement are working really hard on hurricane Florence. As the storm begins to finally recede, they will kick into an even higher gear. Very Professional!” Trump tweeted.

FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement are working really hard on hurricane Florence. As the storm begins to finally recede, they will kick into an even higher gear. Very Professional!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2018

Fourteen people have died from the storm as of Sunday morning as Florence continues to slam the mid-Atlantic coast.

{mosads}While the storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression, it has wreaked havoc in North and South Carolina, flooding communities and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power.

The storm is expected to linger over the Carolinas as it continues to dump rain over the region. CNN reported that it is likely to dump up to 40 inches of rain in North Carolina and the northeastern edge of South Carolina.

Trump is scheduled to receive a briefing on the storm at the White House on Sunday afternoon.

The president has drawn criticism as he has asserted without evidence in recent days that the death toll from a hurricane last year in Puerto Rico was inflated to make him look bad.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long on Sunday also expressed frustration over the methodology of some of the studies that determined the death toll.

“The president’s very passionate about the work we’ve done. He’s been incredibly supportive of me and this staff,” Long said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“He’s very supportive, which is exactly what FEMA needs,” he added, noting that Trump has held a pair of Cabinet meetings at FEMA headquarters.