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President Biden surveyed the destruction left by a series of tornadoes in Kentucky Wednesday, five days after wild weather killed at least 74 state residents.

“There’s no red tornadoes or blue tornadoes. There’s no red states or blue states when this stuff starts to happen,” Biden said during a briefing with local officials at the Fort Campbell Army base.

“I think, at least in my experience, it either brings people together or really knocks them apart, and it’s moving you together here,” Biden said.

Biden then walked through the streets of the hard-hit city of Mayfield and spoke with residents outside their obliterated homes.

The president is expected to make additional public remarks in the afternoon before returning to Washington.

More than 30 twisters hit Kentucky and five neighboring states on Friday night.


  President Joe Biden greets residents while surviving storm damage caused by an extreme tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky on Dec. 15, 2021. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik President Joe Biden greets residents while surviving storm damage caused by an extreme tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky on Dec. 15, 2021. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

  President Joe Biden’s motorcade drives through the wreckage streets of Mayfield, Kentucky. REUTERS President Joe Biden’s motorcade drives through the wreckage streets of Mayfield, Kentucky. REUTERS

  President Joe Biden emphasized there are no “red states or blue states when” natural disasters strike. REUTERS President Joe Biden emphasized there are no “red states or blue states when” natural disasters strike. REUTERS

  President Joe Biden tours a neighborhood with Kentucky’s first lady Britainy Beshear, Bishop Anne Henning Byfield and Graves County Judge Executive Jesse Perry in Mayfield, Kentucky. REUTERS President Joe Biden tours a neighborhood with Kentucky’s first lady Britainy Beshear, Bishop Anne Henning Byfield and Graves County Judge Executive Jesse Perry in Mayfield, Kentucky. REUTERS

Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee also were impacted. At least 14 people were killed across those states and more than 100 people remain missing.

The victims in Kentucky include at least 12 children — one of them a two-month-old baby. Thousands more have been left without electricity and other utilities, including heat and running water.


  Resident Gary Killian kisses his wife Leslie Killian while wearing a Trump hat at a memorial in Mayfield, Kentucky. REUTERS Resident Gary Killian kisses his wife Leslie Killian while wearing a Trump hat at a memorial in Mayfield, Kentucky. REUTERS

  President Joe Biden speaks with a resident as he tours storm damage in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 15, 2021. AFP via Getty Images President Joe Biden speaks with a resident as he tours storm damage in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 15, 2021. AFP via Getty Images

  Biden prays with Mayor of Mayfield, Kentucky, Kathy O’Nan (third from left, front); Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear (second from left); FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell (left) and former Governor Steve Beshear (rear) as they tour a neighborhood in Mayfield, Kentucky, devastated by the December 10-11 tornadoes, on December 15, 2021. AFP via Getty Images Biden prays with Mayor of Mayfield, Kentucky, Kathy O’Nan (third from left, front); Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear (second from left); FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell (left) and former Governor Steve Beshear (rear) as they tour a neighborhood in Mayfield, Kentucky, devastated by the December 10-11 tornadoes, on December 15, 2021. AFP via Getty Images

  Biden comforting a child while surveying damage in Dawson Springs. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Biden comforting a child while surveying damage in Dawson Springs. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Biden called the destruction “stunning” on Monday after the White House announced his trip. 

“We’re going to stay as long as it takes to help them,” he told reporters, adding that the most urgent priority was “making sure … that we’re not leaving anybody still breathing under debris.”


  President Biden has approved federal disaster declarations in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to help speed response and recovery efforts. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images President Biden has approved federal disaster declarations in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to help speed response and recovery efforts. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

  Biden speaking to people during his trip to Dawson Springs. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Biden speaking to people during his trip to Dawson Springs. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

  Biden talking to people near damage caused by the tornado in Dawson Springs. AP Biden talking to people near damage caused by the tornado in Dawson Springs. AP

“The devastation is just stunning,” the president added. “I mean, there’s nothing left standing, basically, along the path that goes all the way through.”

Biden later pointed out the damage in Mayfield on a map, saying the town was “wiped out.”

“This is a town with a relatively low average income of under $20,000 a year,” he said. “It is a town that has been wiped out, but it’s not the only town.”


  “The devastation is just stunning,” President Biden said. Tannen Maury/EPA “The devastation is just stunning,” President Biden said. Tannen Maury/EPA

  A view of a destroyed businesses in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 15, 2021, days after tornadoes hit the area. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images A view of a destroyed businesses in Mayfield, Kentucky, on December 15, 2021, days after tornadoes hit the area. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

  Biden giving a hug to a woman during his tour of tornado damage in Kentucky. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Biden giving a hug to a woman during his tour of tornado damage in Kentucky. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

In his initial remarks responding to the disaster Saturday, Biden said that “this is one of those times when we aren’t Democrats or Republicans.”

Biden has approved federal disaster declarations in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to help speed assistance to affected areas.

The White House has not announced whether Biden will travel to the other states affected by the tornadoes. However, press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the president is “open” to such trips. 


  President Biden attends a briefing on the tornado devastation, at Mayfield Graves County Airport on December 15, 2021. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images President Biden attends a briefing on the tornado devastation, at Mayfield Graves County Airport on December 15, 2021. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

  President Biden explained that the entire town of Mayfield has been “wiped out.” Shawn Thew/EPA President Biden explained that the entire town of Mayfield has been “wiped out.” Shawn Thew/EPA


  President Joe Biden greets Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, his wife Britainy Beshear, and former Gov. Steve Beshear, as he arrives in Fort Campbell on December 15, 2021. AP President Joe Biden greets Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, his wife Britainy Beshear, and former Gov. Steve Beshear, as he arrives in Fort Campbell on December 15, 2021. AP

  BIden speaking to a woman holding an American flag. AP BIden speaking to a woman holding an American flag. AP

On Sunday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned that the effects of climate change would make such devastating storms part of a “new normal.” 

“The effects we are seeing of climate change are the crisis of our generation,” Criswell told CNN’s “State of the Union,” adding that while it was “not unusual” for tornadoes to strike in December, “at this magnitude, I don’t think we have ever seen one this late in the year.”

“Even the severity and the amount of time this tornado or these tornadoes spent on the ground is unprecedented,” she said.

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