WATCH: Biden and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper hold briefing on Helene’s recovery

President Joe Biden and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper held a news conference Wednesday about the state’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.

Watch the event in the player above.

Biden toured some of the areas hardest hit by Helene by helicopter on Wednesday, while he and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to various parts of the Southeast to get a firsthand look at the devastation.

Biden landed in Greenville, South Carolina, then departed again to tour affected parts of North Carolina by plane while Harris was in Georgia.

On the tarmac, Biden grabbed the hand of Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, who was there to greet him, as was South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

REGARD: Asheville’s mayor explains what North Carolina needs as the flood recovery process begins

Manheimer noted that they could not close the area’s only passable road to Biden’s motorcade. The White House said Harris also spoke with the mayor and is planning her own trip to North Carolina in the coming days.

Reporters following the president’s aerial tour noted that the destruction was visible, particularly near downtown Asheville, where flattened buildings and fallen trees could be seen.

Marine One flew over the Village of Biltmore, the River Arts District and East Asheville, as well as Swannanoa and Black Mountain.

“We’re going down to see … the damage that’s been done,” Biden said before leaving Washington. He also pointed out that a prolonged strike by dock workers could complicate supplies to the hardest-hit areas.

“Natural disasters are incredibly consequential. The last thing we need beyond that is a man-made disaster happening at the ports,” the president said. “We are already encountering resistance. We are hearing from people in the region that they are having difficulty getting the products they need because of the port strike.”