The Hill News

President Obama acknowledged the destructive storms that swept through North Carolina earlier this week by singling out a state lawmaker at the Easter Prayer Breakfast hosted Tuesday morning at the White House.

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D) tweeted:

Attended #Easter Prayer Breakfast @whitehouse this a.m. Spoke directly w/ Pres. @BarackObama about the storms in NC & help that is needed

The president acknowledged McIntyre and his wife, Dee, early in his opening remarks at the breakfast.

“I know that Mike will be helping those communities rebuild after the devastation,” the president said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who have been affected down there.”

North Carolina state officials rep! orted Sunday that 22 people are dead and more than 130 injured by the tornadoes and severe storms that struck at least 20 counties in the state. Arkansas, Alabama and Virginia also experienced deaths and damage due to severe weather last week.