Government is not the enemy

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Barack Obama, Jay Nixon, Joplin tornado, missouri

From the White House:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

May 23, 2011

Statement by the President on the Tornado in Missouri and the Severe Storms Across the Midwest

Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the tornadoes and severe weather that struck Joplin, Missouri as well as communities across the Midwest today. We commend the heroic efforts by those who have responded and who are working to help their friends and neighbors at this very difficult time. At my direction, FEMA is working with the affected areas’ state and local officials to support response and recovery efforts, and the federal government stands ready to help our fellow Americans as needed.

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, during his visit to Dublin, Ireland, May 23, 2011. The President and Gov. Nixon discussed the deadly tornado that touched down in Joplin, Mo., Sunday night. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) release:

FEMA AND FEDERAL PARTNERS SUPPORT MISSOURI, MIDWEST STATES IN RESPONSE TO TORNADOES AND SEVERE STORMS

FEMA Administrator, Deputy Administrator Heading to Joplin, Missouri; Tornado Survivors in Joplin Can Now Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners are working closely with state and local officials in Missouri and the other states impacted by the deadly tornadoes and severe storms that struck the Midwest on Saturday and Sunday. At the direction of President Obama, FEMA this morning added the two Missouri counties impacted by tornadoes, Jasper and Newton, to an ongoing disaster declaration the state received for recent storms, which means that tornado survivors in those counties can now apply for disaster assistance with FEMA.

FEMA has already deployed staff on the ground in Missouri to help state officials with coordination and other needs as they continue their response. Earlier this morning, President Obama and Secretary Napolitano both called Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to express that all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes are in their thoughts and prayers and reiterate this administration’s commitment to assisting the state and Missouri residents.

At the President’s request, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate will travel to Missouri to ensure that the state has all the support it needs, and today FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino will also travel to Joplin to tour the damages and meet with state and local officials. More details on Fugate’s trip will be released later today.

“What happened over the weekend in Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas, is simply heartbreaking, and all of us are thinking of and praying for the families and communities devastated by these deadly storms,” said Administrator Fugate. “As President Obama and Secretary Napolitano told Governor Nixon over the past day, the entire federal family is ready to support the impacted states in any way needed. We thank the first responders, volunteers and good Samaritans who have been working heroically, around the clock, to save lives and conduct search and rescue efforts. We urge all survivors of these storms in Jasper and Newton counties to contact FEMA about applying for federal disaster aid by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov.”

This morning, FEMA added Jasper and Newton counties to a pre-existing disaster declaration Missouri had received for recent storms, which was the quickest way to approve disaster aid for individuals and communities. Specifically, the counties were approved for individual assistance to help survivors repair or replace damaged properties and other personal losses, and public assistance to help with debris removal and other emergency response needs. Individuals in these counties can apply for aid three ways: by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362 / TTY (800) 462-7585; online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov; or directly on their mobile phones at m.fema.gov.

Since the tornadoes struck, FEMA, through its regional offices in offices in Kansas City, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois, has been in constant contact and coordination with officials in Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas. At the request of the state, FEMA has already deployed staff to Missouri’s emergency operations center to help with coordination needs, and deployed special teams to support the state as response efforts continue.

Specifically, last night FEMA deployed a Mobile Emergency Response Team to Missouri to provide self-sustaining telecommunications, logistics and operations support. In anticipation of requests from the state, FEMA has also sent an Incident Management Assistance Team to Joplin to coordinate with state and local officials; this team is currently en route.

Also last night, FEMA activated the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate hospital medical needs and patient evacuations with the state of Missouri, if needed. HHS has the lead federal role in supporting the state for public health and medical services needs during disasters.

Last week, as part of the federal government’s National Level Exercise 2011, which simulated a catastrophic earthquake hitting Missouri and other states in the central U.S., Administrator Fugate spent time in Missouri with state and local officials, including Governor Nixon. Missouri was one of several states that participated in the exercise, along with federal agencies, the private sector and other organizations….

Taxation is the price we pay for civilization.

2 thoughts on “Government is not the enemy”

Michael Bersin said:

May 23, 2011 at 11:39 pm

From Randy Turner:

Monday, May 23, 2011
Eric Cantor: Disaster relief for Joplin must be offset by spending cuts
If House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has his way, the city of Joplin will receive no disaster relief unless it is offset by spending cuts.
With 116 people dead and the toll expected to rise, Cantor’s strict adherence to GOP dogma seems highly inappropriate.
Of course, the toll does not include anyone in the Virginia Republican’s district….

Does anyone think Representative Billy Long (r) agrees?:

Congressman Long Responds to the Devastation in Joplin
05/23/11
JOPLIN, MO -Today Congressman Long made the following statement regarding the tornado destruction in Joplin, Missouri that started at approximately 5:30 PM on Sunday May 22, 2011:
“Shock and disbelief best describe the reports from those fortunate enough to have survived the tornado in Joplin,” said Long. “It is comforting to see the strong response from our local, state, and federal authorities and to see the surrounding communities come together and offer assistance during this difficult time. Please keep the families who have lost loved ones and the Joplin community in your thoughts and prayers.”
Both House Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi phoned Long with condolences and prayers and each said they would help in any way possible.
The Ozark Red Cross has established a shelter at Missouri Southern State College, Leggett and Platt Athletic Center at 3950 East Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801. The shelter can accommodate pets. For more information visit their website: http://www.redcross-ozarks.org/
Missourians interested in volunteering to assist should call (800) 427-4626 or 2-1-1. Those with medical skills interested in volunteering should go to: https://www.showmeresponse.org/.
Missourians wishing to make donations to help with the relief effort can go to http://www.sema.dps.mo.gov/rec… or call (800) 427-4626 or 2-1-1.
Residents affected by the tornado who wish to notify their friends and family that they are safe should go to: https://safeandwell.communityo… Friends and family who would like to check on their loved ones in the affected area can use the same site.
###

[emphasis added]
We rest our case.

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Michael Bersin said:

May 24, 2011 at 2:16 pm

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 24, 2011
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ABOUT STORMS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST
Winfield House
London, England
10:34 A.M. BST
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. Before the day starts here in England I wanted to say a few words about the devastating storms that we’ve seen in Missouri and Minnesota and across the Midwest.
Like all Americans, we have been monitoring what’s been taking place very closely and have been heartbroken by the images that we’ve seen in Joplin, Missouri, in particular. The devastation is comparable and may end up exceeding some of the devastation that we saw in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, just a few weeks ago.
So far we know that over 100 people lost their lives. Others remain missing, and hundreds more are injured. And obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are suffering at this moment. And all we can do is let them know that all of America cares deeply about them and that we are going to do absolutely everything we can to make sure that they recover.
These storms often strike without warning, as we saw a little further south over the last couple of weeks. And it’s going to be important for us to make sure that we are sustaining our efforts at rebuilding after the news cameras leave. We can make sure that the families and communities upended by these storms have everything they need to pull through. And in that regard, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano as well as I have spoken with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. We’ve offered him not only our condolences, but we’ve told him that we will give him every ounce of resources the federal government may have that we can bring to bear on this situation.
At my direction, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Deputy Administrator Rich Serino have traveled to Missouri to make sure our federal government is working hand in hand with state and local officials to give them the help that they need. And on Sunday, I myself will travel to Missouri to talk with folks who’ve been affected, to talk to local officials about our response effort and hopefully to pray with folks and give them whatever assurance and comfort I can that the entire country is going to be behind them.
Now, these storms that came this weekend obviously compounded what has already been an extraordinary storm season throughout the Midwest and in the South. We understand that there are more storms that are forecast today, so the thing I think I want to emphasize more than anything else, it is critical that Americans in affected areas heed storm warnings and take the lead of your local officials.
I know that a lot of people are wondering how they’ll get through the coming days or months or even years, but I want everybody in Joplin, everybody in Missouri, everybody in Minnesota, everybody across the Midwest to know that we are here for you. The American people are by your side. We’re going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every neighborhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet. That’s my commitment, and that’s the American people’s commitment.
Thanks very much.
END 10:38 A.M. BST

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