Ex-Presidents whip up a storm of hurricane help
THE five former US Presidents appeared together for the first time since 2013 when they united to help to raise cash for hurricane victims across America and the Caribbean.
Democrats Barack Obama, 56, Bill Clinton, 71, and Jimmy Carter, 93, plus Republicans George H W Bush, 93, and George W Bush, 71, came together in support of their countrymen at the One America Appeal concert at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, on Saturday.
In a video message, President Trump, who couldn’t make the event, congratulated his predecessors for “spearheading” the relief.
The appeal has raised £24million since it began on September 7.
In a filmed message broadcast at the concert, each ex-President explained why he backed the appeal.
Mr Obama said: “As former presidents we want to help our fellow Americans begin to recover.”
Mr Clinton said: “People are hurting but, as one Texan put it, we’ve got more love in Texas than water.”
The former Presidents were inspired to unite in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in August, which unleashed devastating flooding that threatened hundreds of thousands of Texans.
The appeal has since expanded to aid recovery efforts in Florida, after Hurricane Irma, and in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, following Hurricane Maria.
The concert featured performances from stars such as Lady Gaga and four-times Grammy award winner Lyle Lovett.