Obama to Visit Paterson Devastation Tomorrow

On Sunday, President Barack Obama will visit flood-ravaged Paterson to witness first-hand the damage caused by Hurricane Irene in New Jersey. 

Obama’s trip follows Wednesday's visit by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate. Napolitano and Fugate toured the state, as well as New York, to survey response and recovery efforts on the ground. Administration officials made similar trips to Connecticut, North Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. 

Representative William Pascrell, Jr., (D-NJ) a Paterson resident and former mayor of the hard-hit city, said the details of Obama's visit are still being arranged.  

After hearing about Obama's visit from Napolitano, Pascrell said, “The people of Passaic County and Paterson have been suffering greatly from the worst flooding witnessed in a century. I appreciate that President Obama will come to the City of Paterson and witness first hand the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene. We need his leadership as the people of Paterson and New Jersey rebuild and recover from this historic disaster.”

Also on Wednesday, when Pascrell appeared on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" he said, "We evacuated 4,000-5,000 people in Paterson, N.J., and throughout the metropolitan areas. Napolitano was here and the administrator for FEMA was here today.  I think they're doing a great job."