FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts (AFP) – President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit Thursday to the water-logged northeastern United States, where he met disaster officials responding to the region's worst floods in decades.
Obama flew aboard his Marine One helicopter to a local airport and was then driven to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agencyin the town of Framingham, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Boston. He met with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick as well as officials dealing with the floods, fitting the visit between a health care rally in Maine and two political fundraisers later Thursday in Boston.
"Whether you are a governor or a president... when these kinds of natural disasters hit, what really matters is the people on the ground," Obama said as he praised the experts and volunteers during a tour of the emergency headquarters. "I just want to say thanks on behalf of the country," and "good job," the president added.
Obama has declared disasters in Massachusetts as well as neighboring Rhode Island, allowing federal funding to help cope with the emergency. National Guard troops have been mobilized to aid in evacuations, sandbagging, and security.
Historic storms -- along with melt from record winter snowfalls -- have swamped a huge swathe of the northeast, from the northernmost state of Maine south to New York city and the state of New Jersey. Boston set a record for its wettest March since record-keeping began in 1872, with just under 15 inches (38 centimeters) falling on the city during the month.
"Widespread major flooding" has occurred in Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts, with some rivers several feet above all-time records, the National Weather Service reported. Thousands of homes have lost power, bridges have been knocked out, train service has been interrupted, and Interstate 95, the main road artery through the region, was shut down for a day due to the floods.
Rivers in Massachusetts crested or were expected to crest Thursday, and though the sun came out much of the region was expected to be reeling from the flooding well into next week.



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