Biden’s Kentucky Tour and assessment of the damage by the storms Washington – President Biden is in Kentucky on Wednesday to look over the destruction caused by a series of tornadoes that struck the state and caused the death of at least 74 people and several many unknown.
While there, the president declared that the federal government will bear 100 percent of the cost for the first 30 days for all the emergency activities to be done in the affected regions of Kentucky. He concluded by saying, “We also need to recognize that people have suffered mental and emotional injuries. The cost of this is sometimes unseen and unknown.”
Mr. Biden started his journey with an aerial tour of Mayfield, which was hit by a long track tornado that started in northeast Arkansas and struck the Kentucky community Friday night, as reported by the National Weather Service.
The president was also briefed about the effect of the storms from the local leader’s post which he oversaw a neighborhood in Mayfield. In his brief comments during the meeting with the regional leaders, he emphasized his administration is ready to help Kentucky not just in the aftermath of the disaster but also in the upcoming times.
He added, “There are no red tornadoes and blue tornadoes. There are no red states or blue states when this stuff starts to happen. And I think, at least in my experience, it either brings people together or really knocks them apart. And we’re moving together here.”
President’s address to the affected Communities
Thereafter he surveyed the damage caused by the storm in Dawson Springs which was another affected community before giving his remarks on his administration’s response to the inclement weather. The Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear said he received three personal calls from the president on the day of the storm and that he was extremely grateful for his support.
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The president talked about the severity of the disaster and also the immense response from neighbors who helped each other. Mr. Biden said in Dawson Springs, “To all the families here, keep the faith. We’re gonna get this done, I promise you, the governor’s not walking away, your county judge is not walking away, your Congress is not walking away, no one is walking away. We’re in this for the long haul.” The president was accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
Consequences of the Storm
The tornadoes and inclement weather left a catastrophic impression and in Kentucky took the lives of 74 people, the governor said. He also said that he expects a rise in the death toll since many people are unaccounted for yet.
As many as 13 people were killed in other states due to the storms which included 6 people from an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois. Mr. Biden on Sunday sanctioned a disaster declaration for Kentucky so that federal funds and other resources are provided in the state.
