President Barack Obama visited New York City Thursday, touring boroughs hit hard by Superstorm Sandy including Staten Island and Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. The president also designated Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan the federal point person to lead the state’s storm recovery effort, CNN reported. 

Obama was joined in Staten Island by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Of New York City’s 43 storm deaths, 23 occurred on Staten Island, The New York Times reported. 

“I’m very proud of you, New York,” he said on Staten Island. “You guys are tough, you bounced back just as America always bounces back. The same is going to be true this time.”

The president was given a helicopter tour of the worst-affected areas of the city, The Guardian reported. 

Obama said he wanted federal officials to work with state and local leaders in New York and New Jersey “to come up with a game plan for how we’re going to be able to resource the rebuilding process,” The New York Times reported.

More than 3,000 households still don’t have power in New York, CNN reported. Long Island Power Authority reported nearly 31,800 customers “are unable to safely receive power without customer repairs.” 

 

Read more of Neon Tommy’s coverage on Superstorm Sandy here.

Reach Executive Producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.