WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will visit North Carolina at mid-week to view storm damage in the state most heavily affected by Hurricane Florence.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told EFE on Tuesday that the president will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday.

The White House had already announced that Trump was scheduled this week to visit areas affected by the storm’s passage once the administration determined that his trip would not complicate any of the ongoing rescue or recovery efforts.

The death toll from the storm’s high winds, torrential rain and flooding was hiked on Tuesday to 33, 26 of whom died in North Carolina, six in South Carolina and one in Virginia, according to authorities.

“I want to just salute all of the people that are working so hard: the first responders, law enforcement, the military, FEMA. The job they’re doing is incredible. It’s incredible,” said Trump at a White House press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Last year, Trump visited Texas and Florida after the passage of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, respectively, and he also traveled to Puerto Rico to view damage caused by Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island a year ago and resulted in the deaths of almost 3,000 people, according to a recent study requested by the island’s government.