Rebuilding in the Midwest and South, Our National Responsibility

Elizabeth Alexander
Elizabeth Alexander
May 11, 2011
06:05 PM EDT

Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden visited Berkeley, Missouri – a St. Louis suburb severely damaged by a recent wave of tornadoes that swept through the area. The Vice President’s visit came on the heels of Missouri's disaster declaration – a step that will expedite federal assistance to the region as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Vice President Joe Biden Talks with Residents During Tour of Tornado Damage in Missouri

Vice President Joe Biden tours tornado damage with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, FEMA Assistant Administrator for response Bob Fenton and homeowner Djuna Miller, in Berkeley, Missouri, May 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Joined by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, Vice President Biden took a walking tour of one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, talking with local homeowners affected by the storms and pledging to help get “roofs back over their heads” as soon as possible. “We know people’s lives are disrupted … it’s all about giving people a shot to repair or relocate,” the Vice President said. “We get it, we understand it, and we’re on top of it.”

Vice President Joe Biden Shakes Hands During Tour of Tornado Damage in Missouri

Vice President Joe Biden tours tornado damage with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, FEMA Assistant Administrator for response Bob Fenton and homeowner Djuna Miller, in Berkeley, Missouri, May 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

From Missouri to Alabama, rebuilding the homes, towns and cities devastated by tornadoes and floods and helping communities recover across the Midwest and the South is a “national responsibility,” said Vice President Biden.

Elizabeth Alexander is Press Secretary for the Vice President

Related Topics: Homeland Security, Alabama, Missouri

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2011

President Obama Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 19, 2011, and continuing.

 

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid, St. Louis, and Taney.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in St. Louis County.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Elizabeth Turner as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.  

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.  

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  FEMA (202) 646-3272.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 10, 2011

President Obama Signs Tennessee Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on April 19, 2011, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Dyer, Lake, Obion, Shelby, and Stewart Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in the counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, Montgomery, Obion, Shelby, and Stewart.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named W. Montague Winfield as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.  

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov <http://www.disasterassistance.gov/>  or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  FEMA (202) 646-3272.

The President’s Blueprint for Building a 21st Century Immigration System

Melody Barnes
Melody Barnes
May 10, 2011
03:15 PM EDT

Editor's Note: Join the conversation to fix the immigration system for America's 21st century economy.

Today, the President travels to El Paso, Texas – a historic, thriving and diverse border community – to discuss his commitment to fixing our broken immigration system and the importance of building a new one for the 21st century. He believes we need to reform our immigration laws so that they address our economic and security needs while also honoring our history as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. 

Over the last several weeks, the President has met with and heard from leaders and stakeholders from a variety of sectors, including faith, business and law enforcement officials, as well as current and former elected officials and others. Like many Americans, these leaders know that the generations of immigrants who have braved hardship and great risk to reach our shores have made America what it is today – a strong and prosperous nation, engine of the global economy and a beacon of hope around the world.

We have already made significant progress securing the borders, enforcing the law, and improving the legal immigration system. Over the last two years, the Obama Administration has dedicated unprecedented resources to these efforts. There are more boots on the ground on the Southwest border than at any time in our history. The buildup began under the previous administration, and has continued. We have also tripled the number of intelligence analysts, deployed unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles, and nearly completed the fence that was demanded back in 2007. These efforts have helped to make our country more secure. But we cannot solve the problems of our broken immigration system through enforcement alone.

Melody Barnes is Domestic Policy Advisor and Director of the Domestic Policy Council.
Related Topics: Economy, Homeland Security, Immigration, Texas

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 09, 2011

President Obama Signs Tennessee Disaster Declaration, 5/9/2011

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds on April 4, 2011.
 
Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds in the counties of Chester, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Henderson, Humphreys, Lake, Shelby, and Sumner.
 
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
 
W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named W. Montague Winfield as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
 
FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
 
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  FEMA (202) 646-3272.

President Obama Honors the Memory of 9/11

May 06, 2011 | 1:47 | Public Domain

President Obama travels to New York City to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Ground Zero and meet with First Responders following the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Download mp4 (19.6MB)

West Wing Week: "A Good Day For America"

Arun Chaudhary
Arun Chaudhary
May 06, 2011
01:00 AM EDT

This week, the President announced the death of Osama bin Laden, visited New York City to honor the victims of 9/11 and their families, made sure the federal government was doing its part in the states devastated by storms and much more.

Related Topics: Defense, Disabilities, Economy, Education, Foreign Policy, Homeland Security, Rural, Service, Veterans, Working Families, Additional Issues, Alabama

West Wing Week: "A Good Day For America"

May 06, 2011 | 7:58 | Public Domain

This week, the President announced the death of Osama bin Laden, visited New York City to honor the victims of 9/11 and their families, made sure the federal government was doing its part in the states devastated by storms and much more.

Download mp4 (262MB)

The President in NYC: "When We Say We Will Never Forget, We Mean What We Say"

Jesse Lee
Jesse Lee
May 05, 2011
04:12 PM EDT
previous photo
play
next photo

In New York City this afternoon, there was a profound mix of old grief and perhaps some new closure just a few days after the death of somebody responsible for such immense suffering in that city.   The President didn’t speak as he laid a wreath at the National September 11th Memorial. And he kept it private when he met with 9/11 family members afterwards.  But speaking separately to police officers from the city and firefighters at the "Pride of Midtown" Firehouse, Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 -- which lost 15 firefighters at the World Trade Center on 9/11 -- the President had messages for all of America.

To the firefighters:

This is a symbolic site of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made on that terrible day almost 10 years ago.  Obviously we can't bring back your friends that were lost, and I know that each and every one of you not only grieve for them, but have also over the last 10 years dealt with their family, their children, trying to give them comfort, trying to give them support.

What happened on Sunday, because of the courage of our military and the outstanding work of our intelligence, sent a message around the world, but also sent a message here back home that when we say we will never forget, we mean what we say; that our commitment to making sure that justice is done is something that transcended politics, transcended party; it didn’t matter which administration was in, it didn’t matter who was in charge, we were going to make sure that the perpetrators of that horrible act -- that they received justice.

So it’s some comfort, I hope, to all of you to know that when those guys took those extraordinary risks going into Pakistan, that they were doing it in part because of the sacrifices that were made in the States.  They were doing it in the name of your brothers that were lost.

To the police:

And so since that time I know a lot of you have probably comforted loved ones of those who were lost.  A lot of you have probably looked after kids who grew up without a parent.  And a lot of you continue to do extraordinary -- extraordinarily courageous acts without a lot of fanfare.  What we did on Sunday was directly connected to what you do every single day.  And I know I speak for the military teams, the intelligence teams that helped get bin Laden in saying that we know the sacrifices and courage that you show as well, and that you are part of the team that helped us achieve our goal, but also help us keep our citizens safe each and every day.

So I couldn't be prouder of all of you.  I couldn't be more grateful to you.  And I hope that you know that the country will continue to stand behind you going forward, because there are still going to be threats out there and you're still going to be called on to take courageous actions and to remain vigilant, and you're going to have an entire country behind you when you do it.

Related Topics: Homeland Security, New York

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 04, 2011

President Obama Signs Kentucky Disaster Declaration

The President tonight declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 22, 2011, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in the counties of Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Fleming, Gallatin, Kenton, Lawrence, Morgan, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen and Washington.

Federal funding is also available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis in the counties of Ballard, Carlisle, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Henderson, Hickman, Livingston, McCracken, and Union for emergency protective measures, (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.   

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Steven S. Ward as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.  

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  FEMA (202) 646-3272.