President Obama pledges to stick with NYC until Hurricane Sandy recovery is complete

US leader spoke in private to the Moore family, who lost their two young boys

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President Obama greets workers on Staten Island as he visits areas damaged by Superstorm Sandy in New York.

Photo by US News

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President Barack Obama has vowed to stick with the residents in the neighborhoods in New York worst hit by Hurricane Sandy “until the rebuilding is complete."

The President said he had made a commitment and promised to follow through on it. He said “I’ve come back today but I’ll also be coming back in the future to make sure we’re following through.”

Eighteen days ago Hurricane Sandy hit New York, causing severe damage to coastal neighborhoods in Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn.

On Thursday President Obama visited some of those worst affected – those still without housing, heat, and electricity. Obama took note of the damage caused to the areas and was on hand to meett with and hug some of those who are suffering the effects.

He said “We're reminded that we are bound together and we have to look out for each other.”

Speaking from a block in Staten Island that was demolished he said that when it comes to helping people recover from something like Hurricane Sandy “the petty differences melt away.”

Read more news on Hurricane Sandy here

He said, “Across the board what we have seen is a spirit of service and cooperation. For those first responders working here the police officers, the firefights, the EMS folks, the sanitation workers, who sometimes don’t get credit, but have done heroic work. We are so grateful to you because you exemplify what America’s all about.”

The Associated Press reports that Obama met with Glenda and Damien Moore in private during his visit. On the night of the Hurricane, Glenda had been trying to evacuate with her sons Connor, aged 4, and Brandon, aged 2. As the water rose and she scrambled for aid from residents, which she was denied, her young boys slipped from her grasp and died.

A Staten Island resident, Anthony Gatti, said he has been waiting everyday in the hope of speaking with a FEMA official. He said it would be “a great thing” if Obama could speed up the actions of the federal government.

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