It appears the trumped-up criticism by people who complain the media hyped-up Hurricane Irene is more off target than the forecasts that, as it turns out, accurately projected a killer storm would strike the East Coast.
National Guard helicopters were flying in food and water to isolated towns and villages in New England today, where flooding has wiped out roads, trapping residents and others.
So far the death toll stands at 40 people in 11 states and damage is expected to total in the doube-digit billions of dollars, from the barrier islands of the Carolinas to the bursting mountain-fed rivers and streams of Vermont.
Conservative critics in particular have poured on the inappropriate comments, even as Americans continue to suffer from the wrath of the hurricane-turned-storm that dumped a month's worth of rain in some areas in a single day.
House GOP leader Eric Cantor of Virginia waded back into the hot water when he said Congress would provide money to states to help dig out of Irene's wrath, but there would have to be cuts to other programs to pay for the disaster aid. And never mind that his state was whacked by the same storm.
"Yes there's a federal role, yes we're going to find the money -- we're just going to need to make sure that there are savings elsewhere to continue to do so," Cantor told Fox News yesterday.
White House aides rolled their eyes at Cantor's remarks, saying the first priority must be providing relief to states and counties.
"I think the principle that when we have a natural disaster and an emergency situation in, in this case, a significant stretch of the country, our priority has to be responding to the disaster and then helping those regions and states recover," White House spokesman Jay Carney said today when asked about Cantor's remarks.
It is not the first time Cantor has crossed folks by injecting his slash-but-no-tax agenda during a catastrophic natural disaster.
Cantor got a slap on the wrist from his former boss in the House GOP leadership, Missouri Gov. Roy Blunt, when he said federal money from FEMA "would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors" before Jopin, Mo. would be reimbursed for damage caused by the devastating mile-wide EF5 multiple-vortex tornado that struck Joplin, Mo. on May 22.
In plain English, Cantor suggested no cuts, no disaster funding -- pretty harsh rhetoric when you consider more than 150 people were killed and final costs are approaching $3 billion for the Joplin area.
"We need to prioritize spending, and this needs to be a priority," Blunt politicely said back in May. “I’m sure Eric will help find the necessary off-sets."
Republican candidate for president, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, is still back-peddling from her off-key remark suggesting Irene and last week's earthquake in the Mid-Atlantic region was the wrath of God.
"Washington, D.C., you’d think by now they’d get the message. An earthquake, a hurricane, are you listening? The American people have done everything they possibly can. Now it’s time for an act of God and we’re getting it," Bachmann said at a weekend campaign event.
Shock-jock Rush Limbaugh, demigod of the right wing and partisan blowhard to the left, led a chorus of naysayers who think the media over-sold the storm, telling his millions of "Dittohead" listeners that President Obama was hoping for a a nasty storm.
"I'll guarantee you Obama was hoping this was going to be a disaster as another excuse for his failing economy," Limbaugh said. "If he's out there blaming tsunamis, blaming earthquakes, this one -- made to order, but it just didn't measure up."
Showing posts with label Joplin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joplin. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Obama Visits Joplin As Tornado Death Toll Climbs
Updated 9 a.m. edt (Monday)
Sam Youngman of The Hill newspaper was the pooler yesterday traveling with President Obama to Joplin, Mp. He filed this report for The Hill:
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President Obama will get a chance today to see for himself the devastation caused by the monster tornado that struck and leveled much of Joplin, Mo., last week. His visit comes as the death toll in Joplin currently stands at 139 people dead and another 100 others still missing.
Obama plans to attend a memorial service, meet with victims and view the tornado's destruction. He is expected to arrive in Joplin around noon local time and plans to address a memorial service at 2 p.m. (cdt) at Missouri Southern State University's Taylor Performing Arts Center.
Obama returned to Washington this weekend from a four-day diplomatic trip to Europe before heading to the Missouri city of about 50,000 residents.
Sam Youngman of The Hill newspaper was the pooler yesterday traveling with President Obama to Joplin, Mp. He filed this report for The Hill:
"JOPLIN, Mo. -- Before landing to officially begin his visit, President Obama surveyed the damage as Air Force One flew over this town that was almost erased from the Earth by a massive tornado just one week ago.
"From the air, it looked as though a giant had taken a lawnmower right through the center of a miniature town. On the ground, the destruction was seemingly endless as fields of debris, once neighborhoods, stretched on as far as the eye could see."end update
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President Obama will get a chance today to see for himself the devastation caused by the monster tornado that struck and leveled much of Joplin, Mo., last week. His visit comes as the death toll in Joplin currently stands at 139 people dead and another 100 others still missing.
Obama plans to attend a memorial service, meet with victims and view the tornado's destruction. He is expected to arrive in Joplin around noon local time and plans to address a memorial service at 2 p.m. (cdt) at Missouri Southern State University's Taylor Performing Arts Center.
Obama returned to Washington this weekend from a four-day diplomatic trip to Europe before heading to the Missouri city of about 50,000 residents.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Remembering Joplin's Tornado Victims
Many groups are organizing fund-raising efforts to help the victims of the horrific tornado last week that hit Joplin, Mo., where the death toll has climbed to 132 people, with scores of others injured, some seriously.
Damage is expected to be in the billions of dollars and clean up and recovery is going to take months. President Obama is scheduled to visit with victims and see the devastation for himself tomorrow.
To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 800-733-2767, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions also may be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
There is more information here and here on how to help.
Many corporations have already begun to help, but more assistance is still needed.
Damage is expected to be in the billions of dollars and clean up and recovery is going to take months. President Obama is scheduled to visit with victims and see the devastation for himself tomorrow.
To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 800-733-2767, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions also may be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
There is more information here and here on how to help.
Many corporations have already begun to help, but more assistance is still needed.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Dozens Killed By Latest Tornado
Updated 5 p.m. EDT
The death toll from a rain-wrapped high-end EF4-rated tornado in Joplin, Mo., climbed from 89 at midday to at least 116 by the late afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon confirmed a short time ago.
"It looks like a war zone -- something out of a horror movie," Joplin resident Zack Tusinger said, describing the scene a short while ago in his hometown, where he lost his aunt and uncle to the twister.
As the grim count rose there were reports of at least seven people being found alive, but as the time passes the death toll is likely to increase.
"I don't think we're done counting," Nixon told The Associated Press. "I still believe that because of the size of the debris and the number of people involved that there are lives to be saved."
The tornado's estimated winds of 190-198 mph cut a six-mile path around the small city of 50,000 residents in rural Southwest Missouri.
end update
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President Obama dispatched FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to Joplin, Mo., today to oversee federal efforts to respond to the killer tornado that uprooted much of the town last night.
Obama, who is on the first day of a diplomatic trek through Europe, called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to pledge federal help in the aftermath of the deadly storm. The President offered condolences to the victims and families of the dozens killed by the monster tornado.
Videos posted on the Internet show first responders searching frantically for survivors in a town that has been leveled by the twister.
Obama is being kept abreast of the tragedy in Joplin while traveling, aides said. He is is expected to quickly designate the town a federal disaster area, which will make federal funds available to the storm-ravaged community.
"The President called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to personally extend his condolences and to express that all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes are in his thoughts and prayers. The President assured the governor that FEMA will remain in close contact and coordination with state and local officials," said White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro.
"The President has directed FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to travel to Missouri to ensure the state has all the support it needs. In addition, in anticipation of requests for assistance, a FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is en route to Joplin. This self-sustaining team will work with FEMA officials already in Missouri to coordinate with state and local officials to identify needs and any shortfalls impacting disaster response and recovery," Shapiro said in a statement.
"The Federal government will continue to support our fellow Americans during this difficult time," Shapiro added.
This latest killer tornado comes amid the worst flooding along the Mississippi in generations, as well as a string of deadly twisters several weeks ago that killed more than 300 people in Alabama and other states across the South.
The death toll from a rain-wrapped high-end EF4-rated tornado in Joplin, Mo., climbed from 89 at midday to at least 116 by the late afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon confirmed a short time ago.
"It looks like a war zone -- something out of a horror movie," Joplin resident Zack Tusinger said, describing the scene a short while ago in his hometown, where he lost his aunt and uncle to the twister.
As the grim count rose there were reports of at least seven people being found alive, but as the time passes the death toll is likely to increase.
"I don't think we're done counting," Nixon told The Associated Press. "I still believe that because of the size of the debris and the number of people involved that there are lives to be saved."
The tornado's estimated winds of 190-198 mph cut a six-mile path around the small city of 50,000 residents in rural Southwest Missouri.
end update
---[
President Obama dispatched FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to Joplin, Mo., today to oversee federal efforts to respond to the killer tornado that uprooted much of the town last night.
Obama, who is on the first day of a diplomatic trek through Europe, called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to pledge federal help in the aftermath of the deadly storm. The President offered condolences to the victims and families of the dozens killed by the monster tornado.
Videos posted on the Internet show first responders searching frantically for survivors in a town that has been leveled by the twister.
Obama is being kept abreast of the tragedy in Joplin while traveling, aides said. He is is expected to quickly designate the town a federal disaster area, which will make federal funds available to the storm-ravaged community.
"The President called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to personally extend his condolences and to express that all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes are in his thoughts and prayers. The President assured the governor that FEMA will remain in close contact and coordination with state and local officials," said White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro.
"The President has directed FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to travel to Missouri to ensure the state has all the support it needs. In addition, in anticipation of requests for assistance, a FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is en route to Joplin. This self-sustaining team will work with FEMA officials already in Missouri to coordinate with state and local officials to identify needs and any shortfalls impacting disaster response and recovery," Shapiro said in a statement.
"The Federal government will continue to support our fellow Americans during this difficult time," Shapiro added.
This latest killer tornado comes amid the worst flooding along the Mississippi in generations, as well as a string of deadly twisters several weeks ago that killed more than 300 people in Alabama and other states across the South.
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