Barack Obama inspects damage by hurricane Irene

US President Barack Obama Sunday visited New Jersey to look at the damage caused by Hurricane Irene, the White House said.

Obama pledged federal help to residents affected by floods triggered by the storm, White House spokesperson Jay Carney said.

Obama visited some of the sites affected by Irene, and inspected the damages and the recovery efforts underway. He was accompanied by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Craig Fugate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and American Red Cross chief executive officer and president Gail McGovern, Xinhua reported.

The president visited residents at Patterson, New Jersey's third largest city, as well as a local store, where supplies, medical screening and additional support to those affected by the hurricane was being provided.

Obama told residents: "The entire country is behind you and we are going to make sure that we provide all the resources that are necessary in order to help these communities rebuild."

Hurricane Irene that made landfall Aug 27 over North Carolina on the US east coast, has led to the death of at least 50 people, and caused losses worth millions of dollars.