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.