President Barack Obama, accompanied by American Red Cross President and CEO Gail J. McGovern, gestures while speaking during the his visit to the Disaster Operation Center of the Red Cross National Headquarter to discuss superstorm Sandy, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, in Washington. AP PHOTO
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama warned the public that the massive storm that struck the East Coast “is not yet over.”
The president said there are still risks of flooding and downed power lines. He called the storm “heartbreaking for the nation.”
The president offered his thoughts and prayers to those affected and told them “America is with you.” He said he also told government officials coordinating the response that there was “no excuse for inaction.”
And he said he told governors in affected areas that if they get no for an answer, “they can call me personally at the White House.”
Obama was speaking during a stop Tuesday at Red Cross headquarters. He planned to stay in Washington through Wednesday, scrapping three straight days of campaigning to deal with the storm.