Obama makes unannounced stop to get briefing on flooding in Mass. before hitting fundraisers
By Julie Pace, APThursday, April 1, 2010
Obama makes unannounced stop for flooding briefing
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — President Barack Obama has made an unannounced stop for a briefing on flooding recovery efforts in Massachusetts.
In between a health care speech in Maine and Democratic fundraisers in Massachusetts, Obama squeezed in a visit to the state emergency management headquarters in Framingham. That’s roughly 20 miles west of Boston. He was meeting with Gov. Deval Patrick and emergency crews managing the crisis.
Record rainfalls have caused flooding across the New England states, with Rhode Island taking the most devastating toll. Bridges and highways have washed out from Maine to Connecticut and sewage systems have been overwhelmed to the point that families were asked to stop flushing toilets.
The area Obama was visiting was not itself flooded.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama will address the severe flooding in the Northeast during his Thursday trip to New England.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Obama would make comments at some point during the day, but it was not yet clear when. The president was en route to Maine to give a health care speech Thursday afternoon before attending a pair of fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee in Boston.
Earlier, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Obama was trying to work out details for a stop in flooded areas of southern New England.
Record rainfalls have inundated states with flooding, washing away bridges and roads. The areas hardest hit by the floods are in southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island.
