It has almost been a week since a deadly EF5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma. As tornado victims are being laid to rest, President Barack Obama is visiting Sunday to survey damage from Monday's storm, which killed 24 people and damaged an estimated 12,000 homes.
President Barack Obama leaves the White House to travel to Moore, Oklahoma May 26, 2013 in Washington, DC. The town of Moore was struck by a tornado classified to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, killing at least 24 people and leveling everything in its path. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo: Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images)
The White House said Obama wanted a firsthand look at recovery from the monstrous tornado that barreled through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon. The president planned to visit with affected families and thank first responders in devastated Moore, a town of 41,000 residents about 10 miles from Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said Sunday her message to Obama is that she appreciates the visit, but noted that the state also needs quick action from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Rain clouds move across a tornado-ravaged neighborhood on May 25, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. A two-mile wide EF5 tornado touched down in Moore May 20 killing at least 24 people and leaving behind extensive damage to homes and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Although the Republican governor said the agency has done a great job of speeding relief and cash assistance to affected families, she's concerned about the long run.
"There's going to come a time when there's going to be a tremendous amount of need once we begin the debris clearing, which we already have, but really get it cleared off to where we need to start rebuilding these homes, rebuilding these businesses," she said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "And we know at different times in the past, money hasn't come always as quickly as it should."
Obama offered prayers for residents from the White House in recent days and has promised to support the rebuilding for as long as it takes. "They have suffered mightily this week," Obama said Wednesday. "And while the road ahead will be long, their country will be with them every single step of the way."
Tornado victims Nicole Ray and Slyler Lusk looks through donated clothing items on May 25, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado of EF5 strength and two miles wide touched down May 20 killing at least 24 people and leaving behind extensive damage to homes and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Among the dead were 10 children, including two sisters pulled by the strong winds out of their mother's grasp, an infant who died along with his mother trying to ride out the storm in a convenience store and seven students at Plaza Towers Elementary School. Many students were pulled from the rubble after the school was destroyed.
Fallin noted that some 100 other schools in Oklahoma have safe rooms for children to seek shelter in tornados.
"Schools that have been lost in the past, many of them have rebuilt rooms of some sort as a safe room in their school, and we're certainly going to encourage that," she said.
Volunteers help to salvage items from a home destroyed by Monday's tornado on May 25, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. A two-mile wide EF5 tornado touched down in Moore May 20 killing at least 24 people and leaving behind extensive damage to homes and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
"Any death is very unfortunate, but it's truly incredible that we had only 24 deaths at this site, because if you look at all the debris field and how wide it is, I don't know how anybody survived this tornado," she said on CBS.
The Robertson family of A&E's popular "Duck Dynasty" show recently offered prayers for those affected by the tornado, highlighting the fragile nature of life.
"At the end of the day, Father, we are but a vapor. We appear for a little while and then we meet you. Some go early and some go later," Phil Robertson prayed. "So Father through it all, I pray Father, in the end all we have, the only hope we have, is you."
Robertson family members of "Duck Dynasty" pray for Oklahoma victims. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
"While we're here Father, I pray we be aware of how short an tenuous life is," he continued later.
Watch Phil Robertson along with Willie, Jase, Si and John Godwin offer up the full prayer in this video:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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