Tornadoes kill at least 17 in Arkansas and Oklahoma

by Laura Clawson

Daily Kos Staff

Monday, Apr. 28, 2014 Monday, Apr. 28, 2014 at 6:20:39am PDT

Business owners look over damage after a tornado hit the town of Mayflower, Arkansas around 7:30 pm CST, late April 27, 2014. Tornadoes ripped through the south-central United States on Sunday, killing at least 12 people in Arkansas and Oklahoma and wiping out entire neighborhoods of homes, according to officials, as rescue workers searched in darkness for survivors. In Mayflower, some of about 45 homes were destroyed in a newer subdivision and a lumberyard was damaged, said Will Elder, an alderman in the city of 2,300 people. REUTERS/Gene Blevins (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER) - RTR3MVEB

At least 17 people are dead after tornadoes struck Arkansas and Oklahoma, destroying entire neighborhoods. One of the fatalities was in Oklahoma, while a single Arkansas county suffered 10 fatalities. President Barack Obama, speaking in the Philippines, pledged aid to the affected communities:

"I want everyone affected by this tragedy know that FEMA and the federal government is on the ground and will help our fellow Americans in need, working with state and local officials, and I want everybody to know that your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild as long as it takes,” Obama said.

It will be interesting to see how Rep. Tim Griffin responds to the offer of federal aid. The Arkansas Republican voted against aid for rebuilding New Jersey, New York, and other parts of the east coast after Hurricane Sandy. Will he join the long list of Republicans for whom it's somehow different when their own areas are hit? Or is he a "screw all the victims, everywhere" Republican?