President Obama told the shattered survivors of the tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri, that their tragedy is "a national tragedy," and pledged long-term support from the federal government.
"This is not just your tragedy, but a national one, and there will be a national response," he said. "We're going to be here long after the cameras leave.
"This can happen to anybody," the president said. "Here but for the grace of God go I."
Obama was greeted at the airport by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who gave him a first-hand tour of the incredible destruction he had seen from Air Force One as he flew in to Joplin.
In his shirtsleeves, the president and governor surveyed the damage, both of them shaking hands and exchanging greetings and words of comfort and encouragement with people they met along the way.
The president is making the trip after returning Saturday from a six-day tour of Europe, where he focused on building U.S. relations with world leaders.
In Joplin, where hundreds of people were injured and at least 44 more are still missing, a week after the monster tornado tore through the city of 50,000, Obama is scheduled to meet with survivors and the families of those who were killed.
He then has plans to speak at a Joplin Community Memorial Service on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.
As the community of Joplin continues to clear debris, recover, and make sense of the destruction wrought by the tornado's 200 mph winds, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon proclaimed today a day to a pause for those affected by the storm.
"During this day of prayer and this memorial service, I invite all Missourians to pause and remember their neighbors and draw upon the resources of their faith in support of their fellow Missourians," Nixon said in a statement.
As of late Saturday, officials said the death toll stood at 139 from the , a week ago.
Missouri Department of Public Safety deputy director Andrea Spillars said 50 officers have been working around the clock to notify family members of the status of missing family members with "accuracy and respect, with the hope that healing and mourning can begin."
To avoid mistakes and inaccurate identification Spillars said the identification of victims is being conducted by matching remains with X-rays, dental records and other identifying marks.
"The tornado that went through this community was not limited to just building and structures . it includes human and partial remains," she said.
With cell service still considered spotty, authorities say they believe many of the missing could be alive, but not in a position to get in touch. However, they caution that many on the list may have been killed in the storm.
It could be weeks before the residents of Joplin grasp the full impact of one of the toughest twisters that caused the highest death toll from a single tornado in more than 50 years.
"In the past decade the average annual death toll from tornadoes has been around 60 to 70 people," meterologist Greg Carbin told ABC News. "The average killer tornado claims about two lives and so what's going on this year is something well above that.
"We're now approaching about 500 fatalities for the year to date, just under that," he said. "That is something we have not experienced in this country in over 35 years and it still looks like we're still around the number nine as far as the deadliest year on record. So there have been many years in the past over the past couple of generations in which we've exceeded 500 fatalities in a year, it's just that they haven't occured recently."
He said that we will likely begin to see a decrease in tornadoes when summer begins.
ABC News' Lauren Vance contributed to this report.
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