President Obama Pledges Federal Support To West
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) -- While en route to Boston aboard Air Force One, President Barack Obama called Texas Gov. Rick Perry to tell him that his prayers are with the people of West and to pledge federal support in recovery and rescue efforts.
>>Complete Coverage Of West Fertilizer Explosion<<
The President also reached out to the Mayor of West by phone, but the two have yet to connect, according to a White House correspondent.
According to the Associated Press, Obama arrived in Boston on Thursday to attend an interfaith service to remember the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
The White House released a statement from President Obama in response to the plant explosion that took place on Wednesday evening.
"Today our prayers go out to the people of West, Texas in the aftermath of last night's deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant. A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hard-working people have lost their lives. I want to thank the first responders who worked tirelessly through the night to contain the situation and treat the wounded. My Administration, through FEMA and other agencies, is in close contact with our state and local partners on the ground to make sure there are no unmet needs as search and rescue and response operations continue. West is a town that many Texans hold near and dear to their hearts, and as residents continue to respond to this tragedy, they will have the support of the American people."
Gov. Perry responded within hours of the explosion on Wednesday night, pledging to mobilize a number of state resources to aid in the disaster and recovery relief.
Perry's spokesman, Josh Havens, says the Texas Department of Public Safety is responding to West, along with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Department of Transportation. Mobile medical units have also been sent to the scene, as well as the Texas Task Force One, an urban search and rescue team.
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