Biden pledges aid to Kentucky after touring tornado disaster area

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Getty Images

President Joe Biden traveled to Kentucky Wednesday in the wake of the tornadoes and severe storms that devastated the area, and announced that the federal government would cover 100% of the costs of the emergency work during the first 30 days after the event of extreme weather .

“You know, the scope and scale of this destruction is almost unbelievable … These tornadoes devoured everything in their path,” Biden said during remarks in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, amid the wreckage. of the neighborhood devastated by a tornado.

He later added that he has been “involved in responding to many disasters” and that tornado survivors are looking for a moment to breathe.

“And you can see it in people’s faces,” continued Biden, “what they’re really looking for, and look around, I tell the press… it’s just to be able to rest your head on a pillow, to be able to close your eyes, to breathe deeply, to go to sleep and to make sure that the children are well. That is what people are looking for right now. In the next two or three months, they will have to work hard to get everything back. ”

The death of 71 people in Kentucky since last week’s tornado outbreak, Kentucky Emergency Management spokesman John Bobel. And Michael Dossett, director of Kentucky Emergency Management, said Tuesday that there are still 18. 500 power outages.

Monday by that night, Biden approved disaster declarations for Tennessee and Illinois, and had previously approved a major disaster declaration for Kentucky. On Wednesday, Biden amended Kentucky’s disaster declaration to offer additional assistance, increasing federal funding.

The president said during his remarks in Dawson Springs: “The government is going to cover the 100% of the cost, the 100% of the cost of the first 30 days for all emergency work, ”he continued. That coverage, Biden said, includes debris removal, the cost of overtime for police and emergency personnel, as well as shelter.

In an earlier storm briefing in Mayfield, Kentucky with local leaders, the president expressed shock at some of the images he saw during his aerial tour of the area, and pledged the full strength of the federal government to assist in the reconstruction and recovery efforts after the tornadoes .

Biden said he was “blown away” by the way the community has come together in the wake of the storm.

The president also stressed to local leaders that the federal government was there to help in the immediate aftermath, but would also be present in rebuilding efforts.

With information from CNN and CBS News

It may interest you:

– How was the exceptional tornado supercell that traveled more than 200 miles from Arkansas to Kentucky

– The search continues for more than .

– US authorities confirm 78 dead by tornados and fear more victims