Obama tours Arkansas' tornado devastation in first visit to state as president

Tornadoes tear through central US

At least 14 people were killed in Oklahoma and Arkansas Sunday after tornadoes spawned by severe storms moved across parts of both states. 

WASHINGTON – Surveying the residue of nature's destructive power in the country's midsection, President Obama pledged Wednesday to residents of tornado-ravaged Arkansas communities that their government will stand with them until they finish rebuilding.

Obama said he wanted to stop in this small city about a half-hour north of Little Rock to assure those grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and treasured possessions that they will not be forgotten.

"I'm here to make sure that they know, that everybody who's been affected knows the federal government's going to be right here until we get these communities rebuilt," Obama said after walking through a subdivision in which just six of its 56 homes had any part still standing after storms tore across the state on April 27, killing 15 people.

"When something like this happens to a wonderful community like this one, it happens to all of us," Obama said.