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NYS Assemblyman In Tornado-Ravaged Okla. To Repay Support Given During Sandy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York State Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, who represents the Rockaways, is in Oklahoma offering support and advice to local officials now coping with the aftermath of that massive and deadly tornado.

Goldfeder said following superstorm Sandy, he and his constituents know all to well the pain Mother Nature can inflict.

"Unimaginable devastation. It's what we saw in the communities of southern Queens and Rockaway and unfortunately it's what I'm seeing again today," Goldfeder told WCBS 880's Jim Smith. "As I walk around and there's an mixture of confusion and grief and just so much uncertainty, that's exactly what we felt six months ago."

NYS Assemblyman In Tornado-Ravaged Okla. To Repay Support Given During Sandy

Goldfeder arrived in Oklahoma on Wednesday to tour the damage and give advice to lawmakers now dealing with their own long road to recovery.

"Be patient and understanding that everybody is going through so much," Goldfeder told Smith.

PHOTOSTornado Hits Oklahoma | MORE: Complete Coverage From CBS News | How To Help

He said his mission also is payback for the help in Sandy's wake.

"Some of the first relief trucks that we received were actually from Oklahoma," Goldfeder said.

The assemblyman is gathering a list of needs hoping residents in Queens can repay the favor.

"Like Rockaway, this is going to be a long, hard recovery and our prayers and our thoughts are with them," the assemblyman said.

Volunteers and disaster relief workers from around the Tri-State Area have descended on Oklahoma to help with the massive recovery effort.

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