Community Corner

Obama Arrives in NJ to Tour Parts of Flood-Ravaged State

The president landed in Newark around noon Sunday to begin touring damage left behind by Irene.

NEWARK — Less than a week after President Barack Obama declared New Jersey a "major disaster" area, he touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport for a tour of flood-ravaged North Jersey.

Flanked by more than 30 law enforcement officials, Obama walked down the steps of Air Force One shortly after noon and shook hands with Gov. Chris Christie and Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) before jogging nearly 100 feet to a group of two dozen onlookers and national and international media. Media was positioned on risers next to the small crowd. Onlookers carried no signs, but had cameras and cell phones.

The president, dressed in a button-down blue shirt and dark-colored khakis, waved to reporters, but did not take questions.

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En route to Newark's airport aboard Air Force One, Obama said he "looks forward to hearing from the federal response team and local officials." 

Five-year-old Nadair Williams received a hug from the president in Newark. 

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"He loved his hair cut," said his grandmother, Deborah Hughs. Hughs, 53, said Obama complimented the child's mohawk before giving him a full hug. "Nadair laid his head on (Obama's) chest," she said.

After shaking hands and smiling to reporters, the president boarded Marine One with Christie and the senators, headed to Essex County Airport in Fairfield, NJ. Christie, Lautenberg and Menendez did not take questions or give statements. Marine One landed in Fairfield around 12:47 p.m. after the officials viewed Paterson from the helicopter.

The four then left in a motorcade for cities in North Jersey around 12:52 p.m. with U.S. Reps. Steve Rothman, Bill Pascrell Jr. and Frank Pallone, as well as Passaic Sheriff Richard Berdnik.

As the SUVs left the Fairfield airport along Passaic Avenue, one person held up a sign reading "Help Us."

Obama's visit comes a week after Hurricane Irene barreled up the East Coast, causing major flooding in the Garden State. By the time the hurricane hit northern New Jersey, though, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. 

During his tour, Obama will stop in Paterson, NJ, a city of roughly 150,000 that experienced widespread flooding during Irene because of its proximity to the Passaic River. In that city, the storm affected nearly 5,000 residents, according to Charles Pettiford, chief of staff to Paterson Mayor Jeffery Jones. As of Friday, 700 of those residents remained in shelters.


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