Obama tours tornado scene, meets victims

JOPLIN, Mo., May 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama toured hard-hit Joplin, Mo., Sunday and viewed the tornado's devastation calling it "a national tragedy."

The death toll from the massive EF-5 twister a week ago has reached 142.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Obama joined local clergy and officials at an afternoon ceremony at the Missouri Southern State University, and the president spoke afterward.

"The main thing I just want to communicate to the people of Joplin is this is just not your tragedy. This is a national tragedy and that means there will be a national response," the president said.

A minute of silence was planned at 5:41 p.m. Central Time, the minute the catastrophic tornado struck the town a week ago and all but obliterated it.

Touring wrecked areas of the city and meeting survivors, Obama said he had heard "harrowing stories but also miraculous stories."

"Today is a day of remembrance, as we move here to the memorial service. It's going to take a higher power to keep the strength of this community resolved to get this done," he said. "And we're confident that it will happen."

Andrea Spillars, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Saturday said the confirmed death toll had risen by 10 to 142, while 100 people were still unaccounted for and being sought by some 2,500 volunteers and teams with tracking dogs.

Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles said the death toll was likely to climb further, as dogs had identified 16 potential victim sights in the debris field Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Army Corps of Engineers said contracting would begin soon for debris removal, the newspaper said.

The Missouri-American Water Co. lifted its mandatory boil-water order Saturday and the Empire District Electric Co. said the number of customers without power was down to 8,000.