Obama Press Conference

From Obama: This storm is not yet over. It is still moving north. Communities could still be affected, there are still risks of high winds, flooding, and power outages. This is an extraordinary hardship we've experienced, and our hearts go out to those that have suffered. Families lives have been upended and will be going through hardship for the coming months. We will do everything we can to help people get back on their feet.

I've had conversations with governors, including Christie, Cuomo, and Mayor Bloomberg. I want to commend them on the outstanding work they've done and will continue to do. (Showing pictures of New Jersey flooded and destroyed, Connecticut flooded, New York City flooded without power). We've been able to help people because they prepared. We'll continue to push to get power up. It's obviously a local problem, and we're giving additional resources.

(NYC is facing its worst disaster in history) We need to make sure resources are getting to the regions that need it. Federal government: no red tape, no bureaucracy, get help to those that need it as quickly as possible. The military may help move equipment and contain flooding in subways systems. We will look into nontraditional resources to help aide the region. My message to governors and mayors, and as well as the communities, is we will do everything we can to get resources to you. If your'e getting no from the federal government at any point, call me personally and I will make sure you get the resources you need.

To the public, here's what you can do. Everyone needs to be out there looking out for their neighbors because law enforcement and local responders are not able to respond as normal. The Red Cross knows what it's doing, so people across the country that haven't been affected, please show generosity by contributing to the Red Cross by going on their website. Click here for a link to the donation page at The American Red Cross

During the darkness of the storm, we've saw the brightest of our people. Nurses carrying fragile newborns to safety, incredible brave firefighters battling infernos and rescuing people in boats. In North Carolina, the Coast Guard went out to rescue a sinking boat. Our strength and ability to look out for one another is the reason we always bounce back from these disasters. America is tough and we're tougher because we pull together and leave no one behind. We remind ourselves that whenever an American is in need, we stand together to provide the help that's necessary. This is going to take some time, it's not going to easy for communities to recover swiftly. Continue to be good neighbors for the duration.