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President Barack Obama speaks about preparations across the country as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast.
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ACC the president stepping up to the podium let's take a listen to right now.
I just was -- briefing from our emergency response teams including three month.
And agencies that are going to be helpful in the response and recovery efforts the department of energy Department of Transportation.
The department of health homeland security department of health and human services.
Obviously urban areas where at this point that this is going to be a big.
And powerful storm and all across the eastern seaboard think everybody is taking the appropriate preparations.
I've spoken all the governors in all these states they have issued emergency declarations.
Those have been turned around quickly.
Here in the White House that we have -- -- assets.
So that FEMA personnel are working closely with state and local governments were making sure the food and water.
And emergency generation.
Is available for those communities that are going to be hardest hit.
We anticipate that that.
The center of the storm is gonna hit landfall.
Sometime this evening.
But because of the nature of this storm.
We are.
Certain that this is going to be a slow moving process through a wide swath of the country and millions of people are going to be effective.
So the most important message that I have for the public right now is please listen.
To what your state and local officials are saying.
When they tell you to evacuate.
You need to evacuate do not go away.
I don't pause don't question.
The instructions that are being given because this is a serious storm and a -- Potentially have fatal consequences of people have an act and I acted quickly.
The good news there's is that.
The governors and local officials I think -- had a few days of preparation there's been extraordinarily close coordination between state federal and local governments.
And so we're confident that the assets are pre positioned for an effective response in the aftermath of the storm but keep in mind.
There for folks who are not following instructions if you are not evacuating when you've been asked to evacuate.
Your reporting first responders a danger.
We're gonna have to have the search and rescue teams in.
And around.
Multiple states all of the same time -- although we've got Coast Guard and the Department of Defense all positions.
If the public's not following instructions that makes it more dangerous for people and it means that we could have fatalities that could've been avoided.
Transportation is going to be tied up for a long time.
And probably the most significant impact for a lot of people in addition to flooding is gonna be getting power back on we anticipate that they're going to be a lot of trees down.
A lot of water.
And are the despite the fact that the power companies are working very closely -- it.
Their various state officials and local officials to make sure that they are bringing in as many assets as possible.
And getting those ready in preparation for the storm the fact -- that a lot of these emergency crews are not going to be able to get into.
Position to start restoring power until some of these winds have died down.
And because of the nature of this storm that may make that may take several days so that the public should anticipate that.
There's going to be a lot of power outages and it may take time.
For that power to get back wrong but the same is true -- transportation.
They're going to be a lot of back walks and even after the storm has cleared its gonna take considerable amount of time for.
Airlines.
Subways trains and so forth potentially get back.
You know on schedule depending on the amount of damage that has occurred.
Let me summarize just by saying that I'm extraordinarily grateful for.
The cooperation.
Our state and local officials.
The conversation that I care -- all the governors indicate that at this point there are no unmet needs.
I think everybody is taking this very seriously.
We've got.
Pre position all the resources that we need but right now the key is to make sure that the public is following instructions for those of you still need additional information.
About how to respond you can go to ready dot gov that's ready dot gov and that web site should provide you.
We've.
All the information to your family needs in terms of how you can prepare.
Up for this storm.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all people -- potentially affected.
We are extraordinarily grateful for our first responders because they're going to be working 24/7.
Around the clock nonstop.
And I want to make sure that.
Our thoughts and prayers brought to.
All those who made end -- be dealing with a very difficult to a situation over the next several days last 10 Mexico.
-- there's going to be a big storm it's going to be -- difficult storm.
The great thing about -- when we go through tough times like this we all pull together we look out for for our friends we look out for our neighbors.
And you know we set aside whatever.
Issues we may have otherwise to make sure that we respond appropriately.
And -- swiftness and that's exactly what I anticipate is gonna happen here so I want to thank all federal and state.
And local teams that are in place.
I'm confident there were ready.
But I think the public -- prepare for the fact that there's gonna take a long time for us to clean up the good news is we will clean up and we'll get through this.
You back.
Hi I'm not worried at this point about the impact on election I'm worried about the impact on families and -- worried about the impact.
On our first responders.
I'm -- about the impact of our on our economy and on transportation.
Go to the election will.
Take care of itself next week right now are number one priority is to make sure that.
We are saving lives.
That starts search and rescue teams are going to be in place the people have been good food water shelter that they need in case of emergency.
And that we respond as quickly as possible to get the economy back on track.
