Obama Tours Alabama Destruction

April 29, 2011

President Obama joined Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and other officials in a sobering tour of the massive tornado damage in Tuscaloosa this afternoon.

“Michelle and I want to express, first of all, our deepest condolences to not just the city of Tuscaloosa but the state of Alabama and all the other states that have been affected by this unbelievable storm,” said Obama, adding that he had never seen devastation like that around him in Alabama.

“We were just talking to some residents here who were lucky enough to escape alive, but have lost everything.  They mentioned that their neighbors had lost two of their grandchildren in the process,” he said.

There were stories like that not only all over town, but across the state and even the region, and the President praised the “resilience” of the people he had met even as they were surrounded by tragedy. He commended all the Alabama officials who have been working with the federal government and pledged that the work would continue well after the swarms of television cameras leave.

“We can’t bring those who have been lost back.  They’re alongside God at this point.  We can help maybe a little bit with the families dealing with the grief of having a loved one lost.  But the property damage, which is obviously extensive, that’s something that we can do something about,” the president said.

“We asked for — we’ve mobilized the state.  We declared a state of emergency early on, even before the first tornadoes hit, and then we mobilized our National Guard the first day.  We then asked the President for aid and we asked him to expedite that, and they have done that,” Bentley said.

Bentley said the confirmed death toll in Alabama stood at 210 as of Friday afternoon, with 1,700 more people injured.

Pictured: President Barack Obama, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and other officials tour tornado damage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Friday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “Obama Tours Alabama Destruction”

  1. Sierra on May 3rd, 2011 10:37 pm

    I respect President Obama and think he is genuinely concerned about the people of Alabama. You are so predictable around here it is almost funny. For the life of me I cannot understand why people refuse to see the greatness of this man. At least the rest of the country was smart enough to vote him by a landslide. Some of you that know it all should take yourselves to DC and help out instead of criticizing every little thing he does. Enough is enough!!!!

  2. My Two Cents on May 1st, 2011 4:22 am

    He couldn’t stay long in Alabama because he was on his way to Florida for the space shuttle launch that wound up getting scrubbed.

  3. WORRIED RESIDENT on April 30th, 2011 9:10 am

    He ordered a state of emergency, making the them eligible for federal funding.! Talk about impeding progress, if he had gotten out there trying to find victims, or clean up, that would have stopped progress for a very long time, and EVERYONE would have complained about that. There are too many of you out there who will complain, no matter what he does!!!!! My prayers go out to the people who have survived this unbelievable tragedy! I for one, am glad he is showing interest.

  4. ShARONF on April 30th, 2011 5:09 am

    WHERE IS THE HELP? WHAT DID HE BRING WITH HIM AND WHAT DID HE HELP TO CLEN UP OR SEARCH FOR? SO MANY SUFFERING AND HE GAVE THEM A WALK THRU!!! PEOPLE ARE IN NEED AND SUFFERING, RREMEMBER IVAN AND KATRINA, NO LIP SWERVICE, WE NEED ACTION FOR THESE PEOPLE…..

  5. dad on April 30th, 2011 4:10 am

    What really said.

  6. chi chi on April 29th, 2011 11:24 pm

    i agree the first few hours after a disater are critcal and you dont stop rescue efforts for a vip

  7. Really on April 29th, 2011 11:13 pm

    Whoever the president is at the time….they are pretty much dad gum if they do and dad gum if they don’t. I cleaned it up a little.

  8. escambia reader on April 29th, 2011 8:43 pm

    While at first it seems like a good idea for a president to tour the damage for himself, one needs to look a little closer to see the real problem with the visit. When the president goes anywhere, all other activity ceases because of security. When a comunity is trying to respond to and recover from a disaster, work does not need to stop for a VIP visit. It also takes a great deal of resources from the response effort. There are many law enforcement officers that are taken away from the duties at hand to provide security in addition to the Secret Service.

    There are better ways to learn about the damages and to show support for those in need than to use the resources available unwisely.

  9. Sowhat on April 29th, 2011 7:52 pm

    Well honestly if he didn’t get on his “air conditioned plane” to come see the damage for himself and exactly how bad it was he wouldn’t know the real danger these folks have gone through and the help they need. Would you be glad if he sat in his air conditioned mansion and did nothing?? AT LEAST HE CARES ENOUGH TO COME. And this isn’t about the president anyways it’s about these peoples need!!

  10. huh on April 29th, 2011 7:51 pm

    Looks like he is doing a little more than GW Bush did after Katrina at least

  11. me on April 29th, 2011 5:37 pm

    I do not like it when something like this happens and the president (whoever it is at the time) comes and looks at the damage in his regular folk khakis and button down shirt, gives a speech, hugs a couple of necks, poses for some pictures and hops back on the air conditioned plane. How many supplies could be provided for the amount it took to fly him down here?

  12. NeNe on April 29th, 2011 4:39 pm

    After all these people have gone through and are going through. How can you say at a time like this that you don’t care for anyone? We are a bless people. This could have happened to us but grace and mercy said no and kept us. This is not a time to throw stones. We need to pray for one another and help one another.

  13. Name (required) on April 29th, 2011 4:22 pm

    While I do not care for this president, or his policies I am glad that he went to see the damage.

    I hope that his visit is some comfort to all those who suffered loss. They are in my prayers.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News