President Obama will travel to Missouri Sunday to survey damage leveled by the tornado that destroyed towns and left more than 100 people dead.
In a statement to reporters from London, England, Obama said he would make the trip 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.”
Classified as an F4 tornado—one whose winds are between 207 and 260 MPH—the storm has killed at least 116 people and injured many more. Obama said that he has sent FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Deputy Administrator Rich Serino to Missouri to “make sure our federal government is working hand in hand with state and local officials to give them the help that the need.”
(PICTURES: Tornado Ravages Joplin, Missouri)
This storm comes just weeks after a similar tornado wreaked havoc in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There is still a good chance that more tornados will hit the area today.
“I want everybody in Joplin, everybody in Missouri, everybody in Minnesota, everybody across the Midwest to know that we are here for you,” Obama said. “The American people are by your side.”
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