King Charles Sends Message to President Joe Biden About Hurricane Helene

King Charles has reached out to President Joe Biden in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

It is understood that the King’s message expressed his sadness at the destruction caused by the storm, which made landfall on Sept. 26. He also expressed sympathies to those affected and commended the bravery of emergency responders.

A tweet shared by the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 4 also mentioned the King’s correspondence with Biden, sharing that “As the clean-up from devastating Hurricane Helene continues, King Charles has sent a message of condolence to President Joe Biden expressing his sadness and sympathy for the tragic loss of life.”

It continued, “He also commended the bravery of emergency responders in incredibly difficult times.”

Helene was a Category 4 storm when it made landfall around 11:10 p.m. local time near Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 26. In just a matter of hours, Helene delivered damaging wind gusts as well as “catastrophic, life-threatening [and] record-breaking” flooding in many areas, especially the higher terrains of the southeastern Appalachians.

Emergency crews have been working around the clock to rescue those trapped by flooding and road closures, but as of Thursday, Oct. 3, at least 200 people have died across six states. Additionally, hundreds more remain missing, per NBC News.

Several organizations have taken the initiative to begin gathering funds and other donations, including bottled water, food and medical supplies, to support those impacted by the storm. The United Way of Florida, the Florida Disaster Fund, the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, the Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, The One SC Fund and Samaritan’s Purse are among the organizations that are helping with relief efforts, PEOPLE previously reported.

Earlier this week, as former President Jimmy Carter celebrated his milestone 100th birthday on Oct. 1, King Charles, 75, reached out to him and “expressed warm personal greetings and great admiration” for Carter’s lifetime of duty and public service, according to a spokesperson for the monarch.

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In the private message, the King congratulated Carter on becoming the first former president to become a centenarian. During his years as U.S. president from 1977 to 1981, Carter met the King’s parents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1977, early in his time in office. Both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip also almost lived to see 100 — Prince Philip died in April 2021, less than two months shy of his 100th birthday, and the late Queen died in September 2022 at 96 years old.