President Bush offered prayers and government assistance Wednesday to the Southern communities hit hardest by devastating storms Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. At least 50 people were killed, twice as many were injured and crews rushed to try to save others trapped in the rubble.

The New York Times:

President Bush said Wednesday that he had called the governors of the states affected by the storms and pledged assistance from the federal government. “Loss of life, loss of property — prayers can help and so can the government,” Mr. Bush said in brief remarks before a ceremony at the Department of Agriculture in Washington. “I do want the people in those states to know the American people are standing with them.”

Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Homeland Security, said that a regional emergency center in Thomasville, Ga., had been activated and that a group of officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were already active in Tennessee and others were on the way to the region. “We are going to keep watch on this,” he said.

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#alabama#george w bush#georgia#homeland security#south#storm#tennessee#tornado