Emergency Operations Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

1:05 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, thanks for doing your duty. You face one of the greatest challenges our country has ever faced. As a result of your compassion, your hard work, your dedication, a lot of people's lives were saved, and I want to thank you for that. I hope that makes you feel good to know that you helped save life.

We've got a lot of work to do. I told the Governor and the senators and the Congress people, I said, you know, if it's not right, we're going to fix it, and if it is right, we're going to keep doing it. And this is just the beginning of a huge effort to -- and we're going to continue to save life. But you've got to know that lives are still being saved as we speak because thousands of people are taking in these displaced souls in their homes and churches and synagogues and mosques and providing love and compassion and food.

This is -- this is one of these disasters that will test our soul and test our spirit. And -- but we're going to show the world, once again, that not only we will survive, but that we will be stronger and better for it when it's all said and done, that amidst this darkness, there is light. And I want to thank you all for providing light, immediate light to people who needed help. You make your state and your local governments and your country proud.

God bless you and your families. May God bless the victims, and may God continue to bless our country. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 1:07 P.M. CDT