Obama directs FEMA to aid recovery in states hit by severe storms

Meghashyam Mali
The Hill
July 1, 2012

President Obama on Saturday spoke with governors from four states ravaged by severe storms to help coordinate federal assistance for the recovery efforts.

Obama made calls to Govs. John Kasich (R-Ohio), Bob McDonnell (R-Va.), Martin O’Malley (D-Md.), and Earl Ray Tomblin (D) to “receive an update on the severe storms… and to express his condolences for the loss of life and his concern for individuals and first responders still confronting the destruction and loss of power that is impacting communities as a result,” the White House said in a readout.

The administration said the president informed the governors that he had “directed FEMA to ensure they continue to provide necessary support to state and local officials in impacted areas as they respond to these events, especially considering the power outages and the high temperatures many of the impacted areas are currently experiencing.”

The mid-Atlantic region was hit by violent thunderstorms Friday night which killed at least nine people and have knocked out power to nearly 2 million, the Associated Press reports.

Full article here

View the original article here