Email to a Friend
Stumble It!
By Amy Dominello, Media General News Service
WASHINGTON – President Bush is offering federal help to five Southern states hit hard by tornadoes.
Bush Wednesday called Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
The president told them he’s ready to receive their emergency requests.
“This is a bad storm that affected a lot of people in a variety of states,” Bush said in remarks at the swearing-in of his new agriculture secretary. “Our administration is reaching out to state officials.”
Bush also said the country was praying for the tornado victims.
“Loss of life, a lot of loss of property -- prayers can help and so can the government,” he said.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have also contacted the states and cities in the path of the tornadoes, said Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman.
FEMA representatives have gone to the five states to determine what immediate aid is needed, said James McIntyre, a spokesman for the agency.
Basic supplies such as water and food are on their way to hard-hit areas, McIntyre said. Vehicles with high-tech communication equipment have been sent to heavily damaged Lafayette, Tenn.
Tornado watches continued Wednesday throughout the Southeast, but the storms were expected to weaken.
“We’re going to keep watching this,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.
(Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com)
WASHINGTON – President Bush is offering federal help to five Southern states hit hard by tornadoes.
Bush Wednesday called Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
The president told them he’s ready to receive their emergency requests.
“This is a bad storm that affected a lot of people in a variety of states,” Bush said in remarks at the swearing-in of his new agriculture secretary. “Our administration is reaching out to state officials.”
Bush also said the country was praying for the tornado victims.
“Loss of life, a lot of loss of property -- prayers can help and so can the government,” he said.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have also contacted the states and cities in the path of the tornadoes, said Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman.
FEMA representatives have gone to the five states to determine what immediate aid is needed, said James McIntyre, a spokesman for the agency.
Basic supplies such as water and food are on their way to hard-hit areas, McIntyre said. Vehicles with high-tech communication equipment have been sent to heavily damaged Lafayette, Tenn.
Tornado watches continued Wednesday throughout the Southeast, but the storms were expected to weaken.
“We’re going to keep watching this,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.
(Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com)