FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 03, 2005
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The White House - Office of the Press Secretary
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President Addresses Nation, Discusses Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts |
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Multimedia |
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The Rose Garden
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Yesterday I saw the aftermath of one of the
largest natural disasters ever to strike America. A vast coastline of towns and
communities are flattened; one of our great cities is submerged. The human costs
are incalculable.
In Biloxi I met Bronwynne Bassier and her sister, Kim. Bronwynne told me that
the only earthly possessions she has left were the clothes on her back. I also
met relief and rescue workers who are performing heroically in difficult
circumstances. They've been working around the clock, risking their own lives to
save the lives of others. Yet, despite their best efforts, the magnitude of
responding to a crisis over a disaster area that is larger than the size of
Great Britain has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local
capabilities. The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the
help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable.
During my visit I discussed these problems at length with Governor Riley of
Alabama, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Blanco of Louisiana and Mayor
Nagin of New Orleans. Each state will have its own set of challenges and issues
to solve. Yet all of us agree that more can be done to improve our ability to
restore order and deliver relief in a timely and effective manner.
This morning I received a briefing on the latest developments on the ground.
Right now there are more than 21,000 National Guard troops operating in
Louisiana and Mississippi, and more are on the way. More than 13,000 of these
troops are in Louisiana. The main priority is to restore and maintain law and
order, and assist in recovery and evacuation efforts. In addition to these
National Guard forces, the Department of Defense has deployed more than 4,000
active duty forces to assist in search and recovery, and provide logistical and
medical support.
Hour by hour, the situation on the ground is improving. Yet the enormity of
the task requires more resources and more troops. Today I ordered the Department
of Defense to deploy additional active duty forces to the region. Over the next
24 to 72 hours, more than 7,000 additional troops from the 82nd Airborne, from
the 1st Cavalry, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 2nd Marine
Expeditionary Force will arrive in the affected areas. These forces will be on
the ground and operating under the direct command of General Russ Honore.
Our priorities are clear: We will complete the evacuation as quickly and
safely as possible. We will not let criminals prey on the vulnerable, and we
will not allow bureaucracy to get in the way of saving lives.
Yesterday I also signed a $10.5 billion emergency aid package to fund our
ongoing relief efforts. This is a down payment on what will be a sustained
federal commitment to our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast. I want to thank
the Congress for their quick, bipartisan action, and I look forward to working
with them in the days and weeks ahead.
I know that those of you who have been hit hard by Katrina are suffering. Many
are angry and desperate for help. The tasks before us are enormous, but so is
the heart of America. In America, we do not abandon our fellow citizens in their
hour of need. And the federal government will do its part. Where our response is
not working, we'll make it right. Where our response is working, we will
duplicate it. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters all along the
Gulf Coast, and we will not rest until we get this right and the job is done.
This week we've all been humbled by the awesome powers of Mother Nature. And
when you stand on the porch steps where a home once stood, or look at row upon
row of buildings that are completely under water, it's hard to imagine a bright
future. But when you talk to the proud folks in the area, you see a spirit that
cannot be broken.
The emergency along the Gulf Coast is ongoing; there's still a lot of
difficult work ahead. All Americans can be certain our nation has the character,
the resources, and the resolve to overcome this disaster. We will comfort and
care for the victims. We will restore the towns and neighborhoods that have been
lost in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We'll rebuild the great city of New
Orleans. And we'll once again show the world that the worst adversities bring
out the best in America.
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless our country.
END 10:11 A.M. EDT
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