Posted by Mark Silva at 1:55 pm CDT

“A lot of us have seen the pictures about what happened here and pictures don't do it justice,’’ President Bush said today during a tour of tornado-stricken Greensburg, Kansas.

“There is a lot of destruction,’’ the president said. “Fortunately, a lot of folks had basements here in this part of the world and lived to see another day. Unfortunately, too many died, and we offer our prayers and condolences to those who died.’’

In front of the John Deere dealership, the president shook hands and slapped backs. “Thanks for staying with your mom,’’ he said to one young man. “Thanks for volunteering," he told others.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) promised that this town will rebuild: "They will rebuild – the feds will put in our share, the state will put in some. There will be a lot of insurance… The challenge will be to get people to build a business and create jobs.’’

Brownback also reiterated the White House’s line that the disaster has not found the National Guard there wanting in trucks or other equipment needed to cope with the catastrophe – though a spate of such storms admittedly could cause a problem.

“If we get another storm, we will be stretched,’’ Brownback said, but that's getting ahead of things, he said. "Its not a problem."

The roof had been torn off the John Deere dealership, gutted by the tornado. Big-wheeled tractors, combines and cotton strippers littered the grounds in various states of disrepair.

“Our role as government officials is to work with the states and local folks to get whatever help is appropriate here, whatever help is in the law be here as quickly as possible,’’ the president said. “My mission is to -- today, though – is to lift people's spirits as best as I possibly can and to hopefully touch somebody's soul by representing our country, and to let people know that while there was a dark day in the past, there's brighter days ahead.’’

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius also pledged to rebuild the town.

"There will be money," she said. "Federal, state, local… These are reslient people ... We have an opportunity to rebuild a real American town."