President Trump tours tornado devastation in Alabama

BEAUREGARD, Ala. — President Donald Trump surveyed damage in Alabama days after a deadly tornado outbreak that devastated a small town, killing 23 people.

The president and first lady Melania Trump landed at Fort Benning, Georgia around 11:40 a.m. before heading to Alabama.

Channel 2's Aaron Diamant was in Lee County, where Trump surveyed damage Friday, first by air from from Marine One, then toured the hardest-hit areas by ground.

Survivors there were still picking through the rubble.

Cindy Sandford held back tears as she counted all of the neighbors she lost in last Sunday's tornado.

"I have one here, one up in that corner there, and then the neighbors.There's two sets of neighbors there," Sandford said.

The survivors who are picking through the rubble are clinging to their faith to get them through.

"I knew it was God that said, 'Get out! Get out!'" Sandford said. "It's hard to get your head around it right now, but we're just thankful that we're here, alive."

Survivor Barbara Rowan was sitting in a lawn chair in front of what's left of her home in Beauregard, reading her Bible and trying to draw any strength and hope she could from the words inside.

"It's just been chaos," Rowan said "My heart breaks for them, and I cannot imagine what they're going through. You know, I'm lucky to be alive."

She had a message for the president:

"Just remember," Rowan said. "Just remember the people here and try to help them as much as possible."

Trump flew right over Rowan's destroyed home and the rest of the hardest-hit parts of Lee County.

Video shows the President and First Lady comfort victims Friday as they toured other parts of the area on the ground.

Before he left, Trump visited 23 white crosses that represent the victims, who ranged in age from 6 to 89 years old.

Trump's motorcade finally headed to a recovery operations center, where he spoke to volunteers.

"I want to thank you for doing the job you're doing," Trump said in a video shot by a volunteer. "You're incredible people. We couldn't get here fast enough. I wanted to come the day this happened."

Diamant spoke to high school student Colton Brand, who shot the video.

"It was cool. It was a cool experience," Brand said. "I've never met a president before."

The visit seemed to mean a lot to survivors.

"I hope and I also know he'll just keep the Lee County community and everything in his thoughts and prayers," Daniel Santa Ana said. "That's pretty much all we can ask of him."

[PHOTOS: Widespread damage in Talbot County after tornado rips through]

After the president left, the massive relief effort is just getting started, with heavy equipment and crews racing to restore power.

Trump has said he's instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to give Alabama "the A-plus treatment" as the state recovers. The Red Cross is also on hand to help survivors.

[10 members of one family among 23 killed in Alabama tornado]

Diamant spoke to Robbie Smith with Alabama Power about the relief efforts.

"It's frustrating to see people's homes destroyed and lives lost, but for us to help get some of the normal back to them, it means a lot to us," Smith said.

The cleanup will likely take months, even with the army of volunteers and survivors helping.

A funeral for the storm's youngest victim, 6-year-old AJ Hernandez, was held today in Opelika.

Cox Media Group