Biden pledges `whatever it takes’ to assist tornado victims

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (AP) – President Joe Biden is pledging to do “whatever it takes, as long as it takes” to help Kentucky and other states recover and rebuild after a series of deadly tornadoes that he says left a trail of unimaginable devastation.

During a stop in Dawson Springs, the president said that "the scope and scale of this destruction is almost beyond belief.”

More than 30 tornadoes tore through Kentucky and at least four other states over the weekend. Biden spoke of the stress felt by victims of natural disasters such and also said it was urgent that people be moved from emergency shelters in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At the same time, the president praised the outpouring of support from reeling communities.

The storms killed at least 88 people and demolished homes, downed power lines and cut off residents from key utilities as temperatures dropped below freezing in Kentucky this week.