President Barack Obama toured through New Jersey on Sunday to survey damage left in the wake of Hurricane Irene, which flooded entire towns and killed dozens of people along the East Coast.
Speaking in Paterson, a northern New Jersey city hit particularly hard by floods and still partially underwater, Obama said local, state, and federal governments would assist in rebuilding the areas hit hardest by Irene.
For residents affected by the storm, “The entire country is behind you and we are going to make sure that we provide all the resources that are necessary in order to help these communities rebuild,” said Obama. His comments were posted online in a White House blog.
Irene flooded shopping centers, prompted authorities to block roads, and forced thousands of people to flee their homes throughout New Jersey. Paterson is located on the Passaic River, which has swelled to record levels from increased rainfall.
Obama addressed speculation that the government would be mired in political squabbles, and thus would take too long in delivering funding to the communities. “I want to make it very clear that we are going to meet our federal obligations because we’re one country,” he said.
He also addressed what many perceived to be exaggeration on the part of the media before Irene struck land, stressing that the hurricane had done extensive damage to communities along the East Coast.
“We know it could have been worse but we should not underestimate the heartache that’s going through a lot of these communities and affecting a lot of these families,” Obama said.
Northern New Jersey was declared a major disaster area last week by the president, making it possible for federal funding to be delivered there.
Gov. Chris Christie announced Sunday that the federal government approved the state’s request for disaster funds in 21 counties, allowing for individual and public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“I am so grateful that the president came to northern New Jersey to witness firsthand the suffering of our people and that he pledged immediate federal relief,” said Rep. Steve Rothman in a statement on his website, who surveyed the damage with Obama.
Irene hit North Carolina last week with maximum winds at around 90 miles per hour before heading upward along the coast. In an unprecedented move, the storm forced New York City officials to close down the subway and other public transportation for more than a day.
