May 27, 2013

President Obama 'Comforter-in-Chief' in Oklahoma
By Hazel Trice Edney

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President Barack Obama talks with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, and local officials as he tours tornado damage along a block of Eagle Drive in Moore, Okla. PHOTO: Pete Souza/The White House

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – As donations and assistance continue to poor in to the people of Tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla., reality continues to sink in and the 22 dead are grieved, President Obama – once again in his role as comforter-in-chief - has promised U. S. Government assistance in every way possible.

“And when we say that we’ve got your back, I promise you, we keep our word. If you talk to folks in Alabama who have been affected over the last couple of years; you talk to the folks at Joplin, who I know have actually sent volunteers down here to Moore; if you talk to folks in New Jersey and New York, they’ll tell you that when we say we’re going to be there until you completely rebuild, we mean it. And I want everybody to have that confidence,” the President said Sunday from a presidential podium standing amidst the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary School.

He was referring to other natural disasters, including the deadly tornados of Alabama and Joplin and last year’s flooding of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey as examples of White House responsiveness in times of crisis. In fact, he also visited and toured the Jersey Shore this week to check on continued recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

In Oklahoma, he thanked Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis, members of Congress and other representatives for their quick responses, leadership, “strong spirit and sense of community.”

Now, more than a week since the ferocious tornado, estimates are that more than 13,000 homes were destroyed and 24 people died; including 10 children. Approximately 377 were injured. The damages are expected to reach well into the billions of dollars and the weeks; even years ahead will be daunting. But President Obama assured and encouraged that it will be possible to rebuild broken buildings and broken lives.

“Obviously, the damage here is pretty hard to comprehend. Our hearts go out to the families who have been impacted, including those who had loved ones who were lost,” he said. “And so I’m just a messenger here today, letting everybody here know that you are not alone, that you’ve got folks behind you.”