What Obama Saw on His Tour of New York's Hurricane Sandy Damage

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President Obama went to Staten Island in New York City Thursday to see the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. There were a lot of hugs, but the mood was not quite as uplifting as his tour right after the storm struck. "We need help -- he should of been here a long time ago," a woman said of Obama while getting supplies at a FEMA relief tent, according to White House pool reports. But while a young man said he "lost everything; I lost my job," he also said he wanted to thank Obama. Obama talked to residents in front of a home with a window blown out. "We are going to be here until the rebuilding is complete," he said. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said New York would "rebuild in a better way."

Obama toured a FEMA tent in Staten Island. 

Obama toured a street with several homes damaged by Sandy, according to pool reports. "We've got some work to do and I want you to know I'm here to do it," he said.  Here he hugs Debbie Ingenito, who lives on Staten Island. The president met privately with Damien and Glenda Moore, a couple whose two sons were swept away by the storm. 

(Photos via Reuters.)

The Washington Post's Amy Gardner tweeted these photos from the scene.

Obama thanked the Red Cross and emergency responders. He said there was still work to do:

"People still need emergency help. They still need heat. They still need power. They still need food.  They still need shelter. Kids are still trying to figure out where they’re going to school. So there’s a lot of short-term, immediate stuff that has to be dealt with. And we are going to make sure that we stay here as long as people need that immediate help. That’s FEMA’s primary task. And we’ll be coordinating closely with state and local governments to make sure folks are getting the short-term help."

Obama met with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Here he's seen speaking through a hole in a damaged house.

Sheila Traina shows a letter written by her 11-year-old granddaughter Maggie Traina to Obama to ask him to help Staten Island. "My grandma and grandpas house was all over the news," the letter says. "P.S. At school we had to vote and I voted for you. P.P.S. Presedent Obama = 624 Governer Rommny = 216."

(Photos via Reuters.)

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