WASHINGTON (TND) — Recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene are now taking on a political dimension as both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump adjust their plans to respond to the storm.

The death toll from the severe storm continued to rise as many states are still tallying the damage.

I want them to know we’re not leaving until the job is done. “I also want you to know that I am committed to traveling to the affected areas as quickly as possible,” President Joe Biden said on Monday.

Biden said he plans to travel to North Carolina on Wednesday or Thursday to support one of the hardest-hit states in Hurricane Helene’s path. He said he was waiting to make sure a visit wouldn’t disrupt emergency response efforts. Many are still missing and some communities are left without essential services after widespread damage.

Former President Donald Trump was in Valdosta, Georgia on Monday for the recovery efforts there. Trump had previously called out both Biden and Harris that Biden was on the beach instead of responding to the storm, and that Harris was too busy fundraising.

They have a lot of trouble getting the president on the phone, but he won’t answer. The vice president is campaigning somewhere, looking for money. So they have to be focused here. It’s too big,” Trump told reporters after arriving in the hard-hit south Georgia city.

Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., told reporters earlier in the day that he had spoken with President Biden the day before and that Biden had instructed him to call him directly if he needed anything.

Harris changed her campaign plans because of the storm, promising to give states everything they needed before leaving Nevada early to attend FEMA briefings.

I want to thank everyone for doing everything possible to think of them, send them your thoughts, send their prayers. I want to thank the first responders who have done so much,” she told the crowd at her rally in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The historic storm will ultimately come with a price tag. President Biden said he is considering asking Congress to come back from recess to approve more relief money, but they still don’t know the total cost of the damage.