Obama Surveys Oso Slide Damage, Meets With Victims, Family Members, Responders [View all]
President Barack Obama surveyed the damage from the March 22 disaster by helicopter as he traveled Tuesday to meet with those affected by the mudslide.
Obama met privately with victims and family members before addressing a group of emergency responders at the Oso firehouse.
"The country is thinking about all of you," said the president. "We're very, very proud of you. Michelle and I grieve with you."
The president said the families he met with "showed incredible strength and grace," and the community showed its character in coming together in the wake of the tragedy. As recovery efforts move forward, he said the federal government will be there "every step of the way."
"We're not going anywhere. We'll be here as long as it takes," he said.
The president came to Washington Tuesday on his way to Tokyo, the first stop on a four-country visit to the Asia-Pacific region.
The massive mudslide in the small town of Oso buried dozens of homes. The Snohomish County medical examiner's office has identified 41 victims. Two names remain on a list of missing people.
http://www.kplu.org/post/obama-surveys-slide-damage-meets-victims-family-members-responders
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