Rebuilding in the Midwest and South, Our National Responsibility

Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden visited Berkeley, Missouri – a St. Louis suburb severely damaged by a recent wave of tornadoes that swept through the area. The Vice President’s visit came on the heels of Missouri's disaster declaration – a step that will expedite federal assistance to the region as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Vice President Joe Biden tours tornado damage with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, FEMA Assistant Administrator for response Bob Fenton and homeowner Djuna Miller, in Berkeley, Missouri, May 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Joined by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, Vice President Biden took a walking tour of one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, talking with local homeowners affected by the storms and pledging to help get “roofs back over their heads” as soon as possible. “We know people’s lives are disrupted … it’s all about giving people a shot to repair or relocate,” the Vice President said. “We get it, we understand it, and we’re on top of it.”

Vice President Joe Biden tours tornado damage with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Berkeley Mayor Kyra Watson, FEMA Assistant Administrator for response Bob Fenton and homeowner Djuna Miller, in Berkeley, Missouri, May 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

From Missouri to Alabama, rebuilding the homes, towns and cities devastated by tornadoes and floods and helping communities recover across the Midwest and the South is a “national responsibility,” said Vice President Biden.

Elizabeth Alexander is Press Secretary for the Vice President