The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
President Obama visits Oso, Washington to tour damage from last month’s mudslide there.
President Barack Obama and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee view the mudslide damage from Marine One, in Oso, Wash., April 22, 2014.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Yesterday, President Obama visited Oso, Washington to tour damage from last month’s mudslide there. President Obama also met with families who lost loved ones, and spoke with some of the first responders who have been working around the clock to help the community recover.
Disaster response began immediately after the mudslide, President Obama said, including a search and rescue team deployed to locate and recover victims followed by an emergency declaration to provide necessary resources for first responders and a major disaster declaration to help residents and business owners rebuild.
“Today, that work continues,” President Obama said.
There are still families who are searching for loved ones. There are families who have lost everything, and it’s going to be a difficult road ahead for them. And that’s why I wanted to come here -- just to let you know that the country is thinking about all of you and have been throughout this tragedy.
We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here as long as it takes.
The view of the mudslide from Marine One, in Oso, Wash., April 22, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Although few Americans had heard of Oso before disaster struck there, President Obama said that “we’ve all been inspired by the incredible way that the community has come together and shown the love and support that they have for each other in ways large and small.”
This is family. And these are folks who love this land, and it’s easy to see why -- because it’s gorgeous. And there’s a way of life here that’s represented. And to see the strength in adversity of this community I think should inspire all of us, because this is also what America is all about.
When times get tough, we look out for each other. We get each other’s backs. And we recover and we build, and we come back stronger. And we’re always reminded that we’re greater together. That’s how we’ll support each other every step of the way.
