(Louisville) US President Joe Biden went to meet disaster victims in the state of Colorado on Friday, a week after heavy fires destroyed nearly a thousand homes there.
The 79-year-old Democrat, who often displays his empathy, exchanged words and gestures of affection with families and firefighters in Louisville, reduced to ashes by the Marshall Fire, on December 30.
“We’ve lost everything,” a man told Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden.
“I’m not even dressed properly because that’s all I have left,” continued the man, showing his shorts, as snow has partially covered the rubble of the neighborhood.
“We clearly need help,” added the son of the inhabitant, who was also wearing shorts.
Joe Biden held his father’s hand for a long time, before shaking those of a dozen firefighters.
A woman asked Jill Biden if she could hug her, before complying.
“We’re going to be fine,” said another resident.
The American president then joined a recreation center where he confided that there was, according to him, “nothing more terrifying” than a fire.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in this neighborhood and see the winds blowing up to 160 km / h and the flames approaching,” he said, after a season of Particularly destructive fires in the United States.
“The situation is a red warning signal for our nation,” he said, referring to the unusually high winds and the late arrival of snow which, combined, created the conditions for a “powder keg.” “.
To the families who he said asked “And now, what do we do”, he replied: “Well, we comfort each other. […] This is what you have to do, find a reason to exist in what you have endured. ”