REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE MARY PETERS
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

HURRICANE IKE EMERGENCY RELIEF
GALVESTON, TX

SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
9:30 AM

Thank you, Director Saenz, for that kind introduction and the work that you and your Department are doing. I would also like to introduce Federal Highway Administrator Tom Madison and District Administrator Al Alonzi. And thank you all for joining me here today.

This has been a tense and stressful week for everyone in the Houston-Galveston area.

Hurricane Ike, with its relentless winds and rushing waters, is history. But for millions of people in Houston, Galveston, and across the region, life is anything but normal.

I want to begin by expressing my heartfelt sympathies to all those who lost so much in the wake of Hurricane Ike’s violent rampage through Texas, and especially those who have lost family and loved ones.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has been working hand-in-hand with federal, state, and local officials on recovery and relief efforts. And let me just note the tremendous efforts of work crews here, and across the region, who have been working tirelessly since Saturday. Many can’t get to their own homes; many more are without water and electricity. Yet they have been on the job, helping clear debris and make vital roads passable for others. Thank you.

Upon landing in Houston this morning, I received a thorough briefing from our team here on the ground on the work underway to quickly repair and reopen roads, bridges, rail lines, pipelines, seaports, and airports damaged by Ike.

But words cannot begin to describe the devastation I saw as we made our way down I-45.

Along the road toward Galveston, we were met with splintered remnants of what – just a week ago – were proud homes, thriving businesses, and busy highways.

This section of the Gulf Freeway is just one of the many, many roads and bridges that Hurricane Ike left buckled, broken, and buried in debris. Each day, the receding waters peel back to reveal new challenges.

Yesterday, President Bush promised help from the federal government.

And today, I am here to announce that we are making $2 million in emergency highway funds available immediately for the state of Texas. We also are releasing $2 million in emergency funds for Louisiana.

We do not yet know the full extent of the damages Ike caused as it washed over Galveston and washed out roads from Clear Lake to Conroe. But these funds are a down payment on our commitment to the people of this region. We will work with you and help get you moving again.

We will help clear debris so electric companies can get to downed lines and restore power. We will help reopen the roads so Texans can get back to their homes – and back to their lives – as quickly as possible.

And we will help you show the world that even a Texas-sized storm can’t dampen the spirit of this vibrant and vital region.

Thank you, and now, we will be pleased to answer your questions.