Standing by a pile of debris that once was an elementary school, US president Barack Obama yesterday called the destruction last week’s tornado wrought in Moore, Oklahoma, “hard to comprehend” and vowed to provide long-term federal help in rebuilding.
The tornado killed 24 people – including seven children at the school site Mr Obama visited. It ripped a 27km-long corridor of destruction through the suburb of Oklahoma City, flattening entire blocks of homes, two schools and a hospital. “Obviously the damage here is pretty hard to comprehend,” the president said, standing on a block where piles of boards, bricks and cinder blocks that used to be buildings and houses lined the side of the street. Rare items that survived – a TV set, a pink baby carriage – stood in contrast to the wreckage.
“Whenever I come to an area that has been devastated by some natural disaster like this, I want to make sure that everyone understands that I am speaking on behalf of the entire country,” said Mr Obama. “Everywhere, fellow Americans are praying with you, they’re thinking about you and they want to help. And I’m just a messenger here letting you know that you are not alone.” – (Reuters)