NEW YORK –
US President Barack Obama said Tuesday he was worried that people left homeless or otherwise hit by superstorm Sandy might be slammed again by severe weather later this week.
As the country voted in the presidential election, the White House said Obama convened a conference call with his senior disaster relief official and the Homeland Security chief to discuss the aftermath of Sandy’s onslaught.
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“He expressed his concern for people in the region who are vulnerable to the harsh weather conditions that are forecast for tomorrow and Thursday,” the White House statement said.
Hundreds of thousands of people in New York and New Jersey remain without power a week after the storm, and gasoline is being rationed.
A strong gale is forecast for Wednesday in the New York area. Nighttime temperatures were already close to freezing this week.
Obama also stressed earlier instructions that the federal government do everything it can to help state and local authorities provide emergency housing, and address fuel shortages and continuing power outages.