US President Joe Biden, First Lady to visit Rolling Fork, the Mississippi town devasted by tornado

Washington, United States: US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit Rolling Fork, Mississippi on 31 March, a week after it was devastated by a tornado that ripped through the southern state, killing at least 25 people. “The President and the First Lady will visit with first responders, state and local officials, and communities impacted by the devastation from recent storms, survey recovery efforts, and reaffirm their commitment to supporting the people of Mississippi as long as it takes,” the White House said in a statement. Officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, gathered in the levelled town on Sunday afternoon, praising rescue efforts and pledging support “for the long haul.” “It is heartbreaking to hear of the loss of life, to see the devastation firsthand,” Mayorkas told a press conference held with Governor Tate Reeves and Federal Emergency Management Agency head, Deanne Criswell. Reeves, a Republican, thanked Biden on Twitter “for recognizing the scale of the damage in Mississippi and quickly approving our disaster declaration – a critical step in disaster response.” The severe weather also left a man dead in Alabama when he was trapped under an overturned trailer, as well as injuring dozens more in Mississippi, officials said.