The Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator will travel Thursday to Alabama at the direction of President Obama after an emergency was declared in the wake of devastating storms.
Tornadoes and severe storms on Wednesday ripped through the South, leaving 131 confirmed deaths in Alabama and more than 230 casualties across six states.
Obama declared an emergency in hardest-hit Alabama and authorized FEMA to “identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.”
On Thursday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate will travel with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) and other state and local officials to assess damage and ensure the state receives needed support for recovery operations, according to a statement.
The White House spoke out Wednesday, extending their “deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives” in one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.
Lawmakers also reacted to the devastation. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) offered his “thoughts and prayers for those killed, injured, or who suffered loss from tornadoes and storms,” via Twitter.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also offered thoughts and prayers to those affected in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.
"The scenes of destruction and devastation touch the hearts of every American, and demand clear, united, and compassionate action from our nation's leaders,” she wrote in a statement released Thursday.
“All Members of Congress stand ready to support the impacted states as they assess the damage, begin to clean up cities and towns in the storms' path, recover, and rebuild homes and businesses across the region,” Pelosi added.
Tornadoes and severe storms on Wednesday ripped through the South, leaving 131 confirmed deaths in Alabama and more than 230 casualties across six states.
Obama declared an emergency in hardest-hit Alabama and authorized FEMA to “identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.”
On Thursday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate will travel with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) and other state and local officials to assess damage and ensure the state receives needed support for recovery operations, according to a statement.
The White House spoke out Wednesday, extending their “deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives” in one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.
Lawmakers also reacted to the devastation. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) offered his “thoughts and prayers for those killed, injured, or who suffered loss from tornadoes and storms,” via Twitter.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also offered thoughts and prayers to those affected in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia.
“All Members of Congress stand ready to support the impacted states as they assess the damage, begin to clean up cities and towns in the storms' path, recover, and rebuild homes and businesses across the region,” Pelosi added.
