TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — President Obama walked through a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Tuscaloosa on Friday and promised “maximum federal help” to the survivors of a series of deadly twisters that carved paths of destruction and claimed about 300 lives in six Southern states.
“I’ve never seen devastation like this,” Obama said as he toured the Alberta section of the city with first lady Michelle Obama and gazed at crumpled houses, uprooted trees and destroyed cars. “It is heartbreaking.”
President Obama and Michelle Obama toured the wreckage left in the wake of the severe weather that killed several hundred. (April 29)
A hyperactive tornado season
The powerful tornadoes left stunned residents literally picking up the pieces Friday, as they sought to salvage what they could in shattered homes from Mississippi to Virginia.
It was the nation’s deadliest natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina — a “tornado outbreak” rarely seen on such a scale.
Obama, who on Thursday called the damage “nothing short of catastrophic,” flew to Alabama with his wife Friday morning to view the devastation in hard-hit Tuscaloosa and meet with Gov. Robert Bentley (R) and affected families. The Obamas later took off for Cape Canaveral, Fla., where they had planned to witness the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour in the afternoon. The launch was scrubbed around midday because of mechanical problems, but Obama went ahead with his trip there.
Obama signed a “major disaster” declaration for Alabama late Thursday, making federal aid available to supplement state and local recovery efforts.
Speaking to reporters against a backdrop of splintered houses in the Tuscaloosa neighborhood, Obama said his administration would “make sure the maximum federal help comes here as quickly as possible.”
Standing in shirtsleeves in bright sunshine and flanked by Bentley and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox, Obama said: “We are going to do everything we can to help these communities rebuild. We can’t bring those who’ve been lost back — they’re alongside God at this point. . . . But the property damage, which is obviously extensive, that’s something that we can do something about.”
He told Maddox, “We’re going to make sure you’re not forgotten.”
Bentley said 210 Alabama residents were confirmed dead in the disaster, 1,700 were injured and “a number of people” were still missing.
At least 34 people were killed in Mississippi, 34 in Tennessee, 15 in Georgia, five in Virginia and one in Kentucky, state officials reported. Many more were injured.
In Alabama, emergency management officials said that with search and rescue operations ongoing, it was too early to conduct total damage assessments.
“It’s hard to think on Friday that we’ll have a dollar amount that soon,” said Yasamie August, a spokeswoman with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Although several states have volunteered machinery and manpower if necessary, the state hasn’t accepted any assistance so far, she said.
In neighboring states, officials hailed the federal government’s response — especially preparations conducted by FEMA in anticipation of formal requests for aid.
“Anything that we’ve asked for, they’ve gotten us,” said David Maxwell, director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. His state expected to issue a request for federal assistance as it recovers from the tornadoes and separate flooding incidents in northern portions of the state.
Loading...
Comments
The Post Most: NationMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours
Live Q&A, 12:30 p.m. ET
Brad Hirschfield discusses if the photo of Whitney Houston in her casket crossed a line, or if it’s the next step in celebrity obsession.
| 11:00 AM | Karin Mahoney on buying the right mattress | Home Front LIVE NOW |
|---|
Featured Reads
Loading...
Comments