Bush sees tornado devastation in US
President George Bush visited tornado-devastated Tennessee today having declared five counties major disaster areas.
Mr Bush began by seeing the damage from his helicopter. He rushed to the region, arriving less than three days after the tornados roared through after being criticised for his handling of other disasters, most notably the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The tornados killed 59 people in at least four states with large numbers still unaccounted for, but today there were other worries of looters and power shortages.
Access to the worst-damaged areas was tightly controlled by police during the day, with residents required to show identification at checkpoints before going to their homes.
Residents across Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas are still reeling after America’s deadliest tornado toll in 20 years.
The rural county along the Kentucky border took the heaviest toll. A 14th death was reported yesterday, and the whereabouts of 230 residents remained unknown, although it was believed the missing were probably staying with relatives or in hotels.
In Atkins, Arkansas, funerals were beginning Friday for three of the 13 victims of the storm in the state.
