People in the southeastern US are assessing the damage and picking up the pieces in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, which became a tropical storm before heading out into the Atlantic.

The storm came ashore on Wednesday in the Big Bend region of Florida, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It was the most powerful storm to hit there in more than a century.

Residents are cleaning up the things they can, and emergency crews are clearing roadways and trying to restore power.

One resident said, "It's just really sad, you know? But it is what it is. And we make the best of it and we will."

On Thursday, President Joe Biden declared a "major disaster" and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local efforts. He is scheduled to visit Florida on Saturday.

Biden said, "I'm here to make clear that our nation has your back. We're not going to walk away. We're not going to give up. We're not going to slow down."

Many residents are trying to figure how to rebuild. Analysts at UBS estimate that claims in Florida will cost insurers 9.36 billion dollars.