Obama visits storm ravaged New Jersey

Houses completely flattened, scattered in pieces. A shoreline unrecognisable from just a few days ago. As President Obama flew high above the devastated New Jersey shore, with the state’s Governor Chris Christie at his side, the sheer scale of the damage was only too clear.

Earlier in the day, the president met disaster relief officials at the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the latest on the response efforts: “This is a tough time for millions of people”, he said. “But America is tougher.”

Then, it was a short ride aboard Marine One to the so-called “Garden State” of New Jersey, which bore the fiercest brunt of the storm. The aim? To review the damage and the start of the recovery process, to meet local people who have been affected, and to thank those first responders who came to their aid.

This is a tough time for millions of people. But America is tougher. President Obama

Governor Christie, a senior Republican who has been a trenchant critic of the president, continued to lavish him with praise over the way he has handled the whole crisis. “He means what he says”, he declared. “It’s important that he is here.”

The president returned the favour, telling local residents: “Your governor is working overtime.” He promised that federal help would be around as long as it was needed. “We’re going to be here for the long haul.”

Trail of destruction

Up in the skies again, it was a chance to see the long trail of destruction in towns like Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights and flooded-out Atlantic City. This stretch of coast may never be the same.

There was no escaping party politics, however. In the sands near Point Pleasant Beach, someone had carefully written “ROMNEY” in large letters.

A pool reporter on board described the scene as the helicopter flew over Seaside Heights. “Houses flattened, not whole neighbourhoods, but scattered here and there. Wood fragments everywhere. The boardwalk gone except for lonely posts.”

Further along the coast, there was: “a fire, which appears to have taken out about eight homes to the ground. It is burning as we pass by.” In other towns, entire streets were still under water.

Later, President Obama and Governor Christie dropped in at a makeshift shelter at the Brigantine Beach community centre near Atlantic City, where hundreds of people had escaped to at the height of the storm.

‘Prudent planning’

At an outdoor press conference, they appeared clad in matching navy fleece jackets. With them was FEMA Chief Craig Fugate, the man who made sure the resources had been in place to help those who so desperately needed it.

Some 2,000 FEMA personnel are on the ground in New Jersey, along with National Guard troops. three Navy helicopter carrier ships are now off the New Jersey and New York coasts, a move described as “prudent planning.”

President Obama had a message for the people of New Jersey. “We are here for you. We will follow up. We will not forget.”

Power, the first priority

He said the top priority was making sure that power supplies were restored, and revealed that he had talked to the heads of power companies across the country in an attempt to speed things up. And he pledged that federal officials would work closely with state and local authorities, even announcing a 15-minute rule for his own aides to return phone calls “and figure out a way to say yes.”

A bipartisan moment, in the face of national trauma: a nation determined to work together and a president displaying the most public form of leadership. This, as a poll from ABC/Washington Post suggested 78 per cent of people approved of the way President Obama was handling the crisis.

For the struggling communities of New Jersey, there was that much needed promise of help, not just in the immediate aftermath of the storm, but long after. And confident talk, from a man facing the fight of his political life, just six days hence.

Felicity Spector writes about US politics for Channel 4 News