By Wyatt Lester Posted May 28, 2013
In the recent events in Oklahoma, the government is already responding with support to help rebuild the northern Oklahoma region affected.
The White House’s release states the president’s thoughts and concerns about the tragic events in Oklahoma:
Overnight, the President continued to receive updates from his team on the ongoing response in Oklahoma. Following yesterday’s call to the Mayor of Moore Oklahoma, Glenn Lewis, the President spoke again to Governor Fallin expressing his concern for those who had been impacted and reiterating that he had directed his Administration to provide all available resources to support the response led by the Governor and her team. Last night, the President also spoke with Senator James Inhofe to make clear that FEMA stood ready to continue to support the people of Oklahoma through the immediate response phase as well as the recovery and to let the Senator know that Oklahomans remained in his thoughts and prayers.
On Tuesday, at the President’s direction, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate arrived in Oklahoma to ensure that federal resources were effectively supporting the response efforts. Administrator Fugate is on the ground again today, and this morning Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will also travel to the affected area to meet with local officials and see ongoing response efforts firsthand.
The release explained the FEMA organization and its efforts in the Moore disaster:
As of this morning, FEMA has more than 400 personnel already on the ground supporting the response, including three national Urban Search and Rescue Teams, an Incident Management Assistance Team, as well as personnel, focused on helping survivors register for and receive federal assistance made available by the major disaster declaration signed by the President on Monday night. As of 2 a.m. this morning, more than 1,000 individuals affected by the tornadoes and severe weather in Oklahoma had registered for assistance with FEMA.
‘The President received a briefing this morning by his team, and will continue to be updated on the response throughout the day.’ – Ezra Mechaber, May 21.
