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Remarks: Joe Biden Addresses Storm Aid and Recovery in Mississippi - March 31, 2023
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Joe Biden Person
Joe Biden
Positive
00:00:00-00:00:38 (38 sec)
"Governor, thank you very much. You know, when I heard about the devastation here in Rolling Fork, the first thing that came to mind was, "I got to get a hold of Bennie Thompson." It's his district, and he treats it like his home. He's been a steadfast leader in every crisis I've worked with him on, and he's always there for his constituents. And he's been a great partner of mine."
1
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:38-00:00:56 (18 sec)
"And the governor is right. The governor -- I tried him earlier, but he was already out on the road. I couldn't get him right away. And to let him know that -- I made it clear that we'll do everything -- everything that's legally within my power to do to be of assistance to the people in this community."
2
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:00:56-00:01:13 (18 sec)
"And, Mayor Walker, I know this has been especially hard for you since you're not only the mayor, but you're also -- and I mean this sincerely -- the funeral director. It's been tough. You've had to prepare people to be buried who you were with, know well."
3
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:13-00:01:31 (17 sec)
"And thanks to Sharkey County officials and local officials and first responders and community members who have worked around the clock to rescue survivors. They get people to safety and sort through the wreckage."
4
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:31-00:01:51 (20 sec)
"But Jill and I are here to show our support. Unfortunately, I've been to too many sites like this over the last two years around the country; I've -- probably with the FEMA director -- better part of 12 to 15."
5
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:01:51-00:01:59 (9 sec)
"And I always see the same thing in America: When the neighborhood is in trouble, the whole neighborhood comes to help."
6
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:01:59-00:02:23 (24 sec)
"Walking down the street here, being told by people the reason we were able to get through it, one family told me: "When, finally, the roof came off the house, we were under the bed, we came back down, and all of a sudden it was quiet. And before I knew it, the Red Cross was out front. Before I knew it... " And went on to talk about the neighbors that helped."
7
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:02:23-00:02:36 (13 sec)
"And, folks, I know there's a lot of pain and that it's hard to believe, at a moment like this, this community is going to be rebuilt, and rebuilt and built back better than it was before."
8
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:02:36-00:02:50 (14 sec)
"The resilience of this community has been remarkable. And I just want you to know, as you fight through this, you're not alone. The American people will be with you. They'll help you through it, and so will I."
9
Joe Biden
Positive
00:02:50-00:03:01 (11 sec)
"Multiple tornadoes are -- tore through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee last Friday night. The most powerful came through Rolling Fork."
10
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:03:01-00:03:18 (17 sec)
"It stayed here just a little over three minutes. Just imagine. Look it. I mean, I know those you who have been through it know. Three minutes. Three minutes, this neighborhood is basically gone. The stores, everything -- gone."
11
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:03:18-00:03:39 (21 sec)
"And the most powerful part of the tornado came through Rolling Fork. It stayed here and had the effect -- it was so devastating. Unless you physically saw it, it's hard to believe. Thirteen lives lost. I met a number of the families earlier today, Jill and I -- my wife and I."
12
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:03:39-00:03:55 (16 sec)
"Three hundred homes and businesses that are nothing more than piles of twisted materials mixed up with personal items that mattered so much -- teddy bears, family albums, clothes, dishes. The basics of life, all gone."
13
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:03:55-00:04:09 (14 sec)
"People are still going through the rubble, seeing if they can find that picture of grandmom or that wedding ring that was on the bureau, or that special memento that means so -- meant so much to them. They get lost, too."
14
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:04:09-00:04:19 (10 sec)
"Some of this dysfunction and destruction that you're seeing here is going to take years to recover and rebuild, but we're starting now."
15
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:04:19-00:04:35 (17 sec)
"When I spoke to the governor, he said what he needed most was a federal disaster declaration so that -- in the earliest hours of Sunday morning, I signed that expedited Major Disaster Declaration, which gave you more access to more federal resources."
16
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:04:35-00:04:46 (11 sec)
"With that declaration, we're providing funding to cover overtime for local emergency responders to cover the cost of removing all debris -- 100 percent of that cost."
17
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:04:46-00:05:08 (22 sec)
"We're also authorizing cash grants for people who lost their homes, whether they own or rent, to pay for things that may not be covered by insurance, like temporary housing, home repairs for those who have homes still standing, or to replace lost personal property, like furniture and appliances and vehicles."
18
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:05:08-00:05:33 (25 sec)
"You know, after talking to Bennie and your governor, today I authorized the federal government to cover 100 percent of the cost for removing debris and emergency measures that are involved in keeping up here, like keeping shelters up and running, and paying for every- -- overtime for everyone -- 100 percent of the cost -- not for the state, but for us -- for 30 days. And then, after that, we're not leaving either."
19
Joe Biden
Positive
00:05:33-00:05:42 (9 sec)
"In the midst of all you're dealing with, I know that it's overwhelming. You figure out -- got to figure out how we can help, what you need."
20
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:05:42-00:06:10 (28 sec)
"That's why right now we have 300 federal personnel on the ground, including FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams to ensure a well-coordinated response to get you the assistance you need. We're walking through damaged neighborhoods to find people in need and help them re- -- they're -- they're walking through now -- going on, if there's any doors to knock on or people standing there, just to find out where everyone in that house was or is."
21
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:06:10-00:06:31 (21 sec)
"We're trying to make it as easy as possible. So, on Monday, the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will be opening four -- in four counties, including this one, so we'll be able to walk in to a situation, explain your circumstance, let people know what you need, and learn more about how you can get the help as quickly as possible."
22
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:31-00:06:39 (8 sec)
"[Speaks to reporters] You can't hear me? Oh, you're talking to somebody else, I'm sorry."
23
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:39-00:07:05 (27 sec)
"Look, you know, you can also apply for assistance for FEMA online. On- -- the online is DisasterAssistance.gov. Or call 1-800-621-3362. 1-800-621-3362."
24
Joe Biden
Positive
00:07:05-00:07:11 (6 sec)
"Already, 1,700 people -- one thousand seven hundred people -- have signed up for help."
25
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:11-00:07:34 (23 sec)
"In addition, the Department of Agriculture has made sure families qualifying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- so-called SNAP program -- can use these benefits for meals in grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, the dollar store, and other vehicles. You can use that SNAP money -- those SNAP material to get meals you need."
26
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:07:34-00:07:51 (17 sec)
"Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fud [sic] is here -- Fudge is here, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell -- Criswell is here, because we're bringing every element of the federal government together to help with the immediate needs and long-term rebuilding."
27
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:07:51-00:08:02 (11 sec)
"For example, the Department of Agriculture is identifying temporary housing, reimbursing farmers and livestock owners for lost crops and lost livestock."
28
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:08:02-00:08:09 (6 sec)
"The Small Business Administration is here, helping businesses get low-interest loans to recover and to rebuild."
29
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:08:09-00:08:21 (12 sec)
"And if you don't have insurance or you're underinsured, FEMA can help you get started by funding your home repairs, replacing some lost and damaged property, like cars and refrigerators."
30
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:08:21-00:08:45 (24 sec)
"I know how important it is for the post office, is all -- to many of you -- in every community. It's where most people get their prescriptions these days. Well, we're working to make sure you can still have access to them. The -- what we're doing is, the national Postal Service is going to set up temporary post office, which al- -- you've already seen, on the grounds of the present post office, which is not useable."
31
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:08:45-00:08:57 (11 sec)
"I also want to note that some of these communities are again facing the threat of severe weather in just one week later, if you've looked at the weather forecast."
32
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:08:57-00:09:07 (10 sec)
"FEMA and other federal personnel are here on the ground, ready to respond and to support state and local officials if, in fact, they do amount to major storms."
33
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:09:07-00:09:16 (10 sec)
"I want to urge everyone here to listen to local officials and be prepared to take shelter. And we'll go -- got to -- you got to go through this together again, if it happens."
34
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:09:16-00:09:28 (12 sec)
"And let me close with this message to the people of Rolling Fork and Amory and Silver City and Carrollton and Winona and that -- other communities that have been hit."
35
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:09:28-00:09:35 (7 sec)
"We're not just here for today. I'm determined that we're going to leave nothing behind. We're going to get it done for you."
36
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:09:35-00:09:39 (4 sec)
"That's why I'm here, why your Congress are here, why the governor is here."
37
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:09:39-00:09:47 (8 sec)
"We're focused on -- now on making sure you've got the place to sleep, food to eat, helping you rebuild your lives in Rolling [DEL: Stone :DEL] [Fork]."
38
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:09:47-00:09:56 (9 sec)
"But long term, I know this is your community. This is where you built your lives. And we're going to make sure you can stay right here."
39
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:09:56-00:10:27 (31 sec)
"There's nothing we can do to heal the hole in your hearts left by the 13 people who passed, many of whom I met their families: Melissa [DEL: Price :DEL] [Pierce]. Lonnie [DEL: Price :DEL] [Pierce]. Mary Bush. [DEL: Doris :DEL] [Deloris] Harris. David Moore. Phyllis Maxey. Daryl -- excuse me -- Daryl Purvis. Linda Herman. Erica Moore. Brenda Odoms. April Johnson. [DEL: Lavette :DEL] [Lavetta] Herman. And [DEL: Wendy :DEL] [Wanda] Kelly."
40
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:10:27-00:10:42 (14 sec)
"As I've told some of the survivors, we all have had experiences -- not the same, but getting that sudden experience you've lost someone is devastating. It's absolutely devastating. And we kind of understand it."
41
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:42-00:10:49 (8 sec)
"But I've heard incredible stories about the spirit of these families and the resilience and your bravery."
42
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:10:49-00:10:55 (5 sec)
"The town of Rolling [DEL: Stone :DEL] [Fork] will be back, and we'll be with you every step of the way. [Audience member calls out "Rolling Fork"]"
43
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:10:55-00:11:04 (9 sec)
"And I -- Ro- -- what did I say? I did -- I said "Rolling Fork." "Rolling Stone." I got my mind going here. [Laughter]"
44
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:11:04-00:11:07 (3 sec)
"We'll be back. And we'll be with you every step of the way."
45
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:07-00:11:17 (10 sec)
"So, God bless you all. And God bless our first responders. Thank you. [Applause]"
46