Monday, May 27, 2013

Obama vows to help tornado-stricken Oklahoma rebuild

'We've got your back': Obama vows to help tornado-stricken Oklahoma rebuild as he tours flattened suburb of Moore

  • Obama visited affected families and thanked first responders during a tour of tornado-stricken Moore, Oklahoma, today
  • He shed tears as he embraced the principal of Plaza Towers Elementary School, where seven children were killed by the monstrous EF5 tornado that barreled through Oklahoma last Monday
  • He also committed federal resources to help the 12,000 families whose homes were destroyed or damaged rebuild
  • Twenty-four people, including 10 children, were killed in the fierce twister

By Daily Mail Reporter
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President Barack Obama wiped away tears during a tour of tornado-ravaged Moore, Oklahoma today, as he witnessed the sheer devastation for himself and embraced survivors, many of whom have lost everything.
'We've got your back,' he told residents as he committed federal resources to help the still-reeling community rebuild. Standing with Governor Mary Fallin and other state and federal officials amid the rubble he said the job will be enormous but he insisted 'we're going to be with you all the way.'
Twenty-four people, including 10 children, were killed when a monstrous EF5 tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburb with little notice last Monday afternoon.
'Our hearts go out to you,' Obama said, before he urged the American people to pitch in and help, saying that in instances such as this, the president serves as a 'messenger' for all citizens, bringing words of condolence, promises of government assistance and pleas for private contributions.
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Support: US President Barack Obama is greeted as he tours a tornado affected area on May 26, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma
Support: US President Barack Obama is greeted as he tours a tornado affected area on May 26, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma
School: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks following a tour of the tornado affected Plaza Towers Elementary School
School: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks following a tour of the tornado affected Plaza Towers Elementary School

Sad: President Barack Obama tries to comfort Plaza Towers Elementary School principal Amy Simpson as he views the devastation of the school
Sad: President Barack Obama tries to comfort Plaza Towers Elementary School principal Amy Simpson as he views the devastation of the school
Comfort: U.S. President Barack Obama walks with Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Comfort: U.S. President Barack Obama walks with Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
View: A trio of men perch in a tree in the hopes of seeing US President Barack Obama tour the devastation caused by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. The three were asked to get down by the Secret Service
View: A trio of men perch in a tree in the hopes of seeing US President Barack Obama tour the devastation caused by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. The three were asked to get down by the Secret Service
Obama comforted emotional Plaza Towers Elementary School principal Amy Simpson and wiped away tears of his own as they stood among the wreckage of her school, where the lives of seven of her students were tragically cut shot during the terrifying storm.
The one-story building was turned into a heap of bricks, broken concrete and twisted metal.
'(The damage is) pretty hard to comprehend,' Obama said.
 
He also visited with families whose homes were among some 1,200 destroyed and 12,000 damaged.
'This is a strong community with strong character,' he said. 'There's no doubt they will bounce back. But they need help.'
Obama walked along Eagle Drive, with the demolished school on his left and on his right, homes reduced as far as the eye could see to piles of rubble. Vehicles were turned upside down and toys like doll carriages and children's books were strewn with furniture and ripped out wall insulation.
'I know this is tough,' he told one school official.
He met the Lewis family, who lost their home behind the school, telling them the important thing is they survived and could replace their things.
Tour: Obama is in the Oklahoma City area to survey damage from the tornado which struck a week ago
Tour: Obama is in the Oklahoma City area to survey damage from the tornado which struck a week ago

Tears: Obama wipes away tears after hugging Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Tears: Obama wipes away tears after hugging Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Survivors: U.S. President Barack Obama greets tornado survivors Julie Lewis, her husband Scott and son Zack, on the grounds of Plaza Towers Elementary School
Survivors: U.S. President Barack Obama greets tornado survivors Julie Lewis, her husband Scott and son Zack, on the grounds of Plaza Towers Elementary School
Brave teachers: U.S. President Barack Obama greets teachers on the scene of tornado damage
Brave teachers: U.S. President Barack Obama greets teachers on the scene of tornado damage
'What a mess,' he told their son Zack, a third grader at the shattered school. Zack's father, Scott, ran into the school just before the storm hit and ran with his terrified son back to their home's storm shelter.
'You've got some story to tell,' Obama told the boy. 'This is something you'll remember all your life.'
Obama later met privately with victims' families at a Moore Fire Department Station, which has turned into a command center with dozens of first responders sitting at folding tables where fire trucks are normally parked. Obama marveled that they saved so many lives 'given the devastation.'
The president's motorcade passed past grassy fields strewn with scattered debris. He saw devastation so awesome that it appeared as if garbage had literally rained from the sky.
Obama flew from Washington into Tinker Air Force Base and shook hands with personnel whose homes off base were lost or damaged.
Fallin, the first to greet the president as he got off the plane, said Sunday that her message to Obama is that she appreciates the visit, but the state also needs quick action from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the ravaged town of 41,000 people.

School: Obama speaks at the tornado affected Plaza Towers Elementary School on May 26, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma
School: Obama speaks at the tornado affected Plaza Towers Elementary School on May 26, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma
Funding: Obama said the government would help the suburb rebuild
Funding: Obama said the government would help the suburb rebuild
Clean up: President Barack Obama tours the devastation caused by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma
Clean up: President Barack Obama tours the devastation caused by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma
American flag: U.S. President Barack Obama tours a tornado affected area on Sunday as an American flag flies amidst rubble
American flag: U.S. President Barack Obama tours a tornado affected area on Sunday as an American flag flies amidst rubble
Ruins: President Barack Obama views the devastation of Moore, Oklahoma, with Mayor Glenn Lewis, second from left in black shirt, and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, right
Ruins: President Barack Obama views the devastation of Moore, Oklahoma, with Mayor Glenn Lewis, second from left in black shirt, and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, right
The Republican governor said so far, the agency has done a great job of speeding relief and cash assistance to affected families, but she's concerned about the long run.
'There's going to come a time when there's going to be a tremendous amount of need once we begin the debris clearing, which we already have, but really get it cleared off to where we need to start rebuilding these homes, rebuilding these businesses,' she said on CBS' 'Face the Nation.'
'And we know at different times in the past, money hasn't come always as quickly as it should.'
Obama offered prayers for residents from the White House in recent days and has promised to support the rebuilding for as long as it takes. 'They have suffered mightily this week,' Obama said Wednesday. 'And while the road ahead will be long, their country will be with them every single step of the way.'
White House spokesman Josh Earnest, speaking to reporters accompanying the presidential party on Air Force One, said Obama wanted to make the trip to offer condolences and reiterate his and the nation's commitment to rebuild.
Together: US President Barack Obama is greeted by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin upon arrival at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 26, 2013
Together: US President Barack Obama is greeted by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin upon arrival at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 26, 2013

Ravaged: The tornado on Monday destroyed 1,200 homes and damaged some 12,000
Ravaged: The tornado on Monday destroyed 1,200 homes and damaged some 12,000
Emotional: U.S. President Barack Obama, center, hugs teachers and first responders in Moore
Emotional: U.S. President Barack Obama, center, hugs teachers and first responders at Plaza Towers Elementary in Moore
We've got you: Obama talks with Plaza Towers Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson who lost seven students last Monday
We've got you: Obama talks with Plaza Towers Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson who lost seven students last Monday
'This is the greatest nation on Earth, and we're going to dedicate this nation's time, attention, resources and expertise to help our people in their time of urgent crisis,' the spokesman said.
Earnest touted the federal contributions so far, including Obama's signing of a disaster declaration within hours of the storm to speed aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Earnest said that 450 FEMA personnel were working on the ground in Oklahoma and have delivered 43,000 meals, 150,000 liters of water and thousands of cots, blankets and tarps. He said 4,200 people have applied for disaster assistance, and $3.4 million in payments have been approved.
Fallin said the money is particularly vital for the victims. 'A lot of people lose their checkbooks, they lose their credit cards, they lose their driver's license, their birth certificates, their insurance papers, they lose everything, and they have no cash.
'And some of the banks were even hit, the ATM machines, so people need cash to get immediate needs,' she said on CBS.
Rebuild: US President Barack Obama vowed to help residents of Moore rebuild after the tornado
Rebuild: US President Barack Obama vowed to help residents of Moore rebuild after the tornado

Devastation: U.S. President Barack Obama, center, walks with Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson, left, on a tour of the destroyed school in Moore, Oklahoma
Devastation: U.S. President Barack Obama, center, walks with Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson, left, on a tour of the destroyed school in Moore, Oklahoma
Firefighters: US President Barack Obama greets firefighters during a visit to Moore Fire Department Station
Firefighters: US President Barack Obama greets firefighters during a visit to Moore Fire Department Station
Damage: Obama acknowledged the rebuilding job was 'enormous' but said the country was behind Moore
Damage: Obama acknowledged the rebuilding job was 'enormous' but said the country was behind Moore
Reduced to rubble: President Barack Obama tries to comfort Plaza Towers Elementary School principal Amy Simpson as he views the devastation of the school
Reduced to rubble: President Barack Obama tries to comfort Plaza Towers Elementary School principal Amy Simpson as he views the devastation of the school
Earnest also said that forecasters from the National Weather Service had worked ahead of the storm to prepare communities that it threatened. He said they issued a warning 36 minutes before the tornado entered Moore, earlier than the 12-minute average warning. Twenty-four people perished in the tornado, including 10 children.
'These advancements, made by government scientists in the field of weather forecasting at these agencies are dramatic and they're saving lives,' Earnest said.
He said Sunday wasn't a day for a partisan political debate, adding that 'it is evident to any impartial observer here what an important role the federal government can play in providing assistance to our people at their time of urgent need.'
Among the tornado victims were 10 children, including two sisters pulled by the strong winds out of their mother's grasp, an infant who died along with his mother trying to ride out the storm in a convenience store and seven students at Plaza Towers. Many students were pulled from the rubble after the school was destroyed.
Too much: Julie Lewis gives way to tears near the destroyed Plaza Towers Elementary School with her son Zack and husband, Scott Lewis, after talking with President Barack Obama
Too much: Julie Lewis gives way to tears near the destroyed Plaza Towers Elementary School with her son Zack and husband, Scott Lewis, after talking with President Barack Obama

School: U.S. President Barack Obama surveys damage with Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson
School: U.S. President Barack Obama surveys damage with Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson

Heroes: U.S. President Barack Obama greets emergency workers at Fire Station #1 in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Heroes: U.S. President Barack Obama greets emergency workers at Fire Station #1 in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Smiles: U.S. President Barack Obama stops for pictures after thanking emergency workers in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Smiles: U.S. President Barack Obama stops for pictures after thanking emergency workers in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Fallin noted that some 100 other schools in Oklahoma have safe rooms for children to seek shelter in tornadoes.
'Schools that have been lost in the past, many of them have rebuilt rooms of some sort as a safe room in their school, and we're certainly going to encourage that,' she said.
'Any death is very unfortunate, but it's truly incredible that we had only 24 deaths at this site, because if you look at all the debris field and how wide it is, I don't know how anybody survived this tornado,' she said on CBS.
The White House said that FEMA has already provided $57 million in rebates and incentives to help build about 12,000 storm shelters in Oklahoma. 'These storm shelters can be the difference between life and death,' Earnest said.
Click here to help those affected by the Oklahoma tornadoes by donating through the American Red Cross.
Security: Secret Service agents scan the rubble as U.S. President Barack Obama tours tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Security: Secret Service agents scan the rubble as U.S. President Barack Obama tours tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013

Hug: U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Hug: U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Plaza Tower Elementary School Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013

Lost everything: Julie Lewis watches with her husband Scott Lewis, and their son Zack, as President Barack Obama moves on with his tour of the devastation of Moore, Oklahoma
Lost everything: Julie Lewis watches with her husband Scott Lewis, and their son Zack, as President Barack Obama moves on with his tour of the devastation of Moore, Oklahoma

Guardsmen: A line of National Guardsmen stand near the motorcade of U.S. President Barack Obama as he tours tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma
Guardsmen: A line of National Guardsmen stand near the motorcade of U.S. President Barack Obama as he tours tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma

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