THE
PRESIDENT: The Governor and the Mayor of New Orleans, Senator Landrieu,
Senator Vitter and Congressman Jefferson, Congressman Jindal and General
Blum and I have just completed a tour of some devastated country. I
started in Alabama, and worked our way down through Mississippi, and
ended up here in one of America's great cities, and saw first-hand the
devastation that this city has gone through. I know the people of this
part of the world are suffering, and I want them to know that there's a
flow of progress. We're making progress. I want to thank the Governor
for her hard work, and I want to thank the Mayor.
I know that some of the folks in the outlying parishes here in
Louisiana are wondering whether or not people are paying attention to
them. We are. St. Charles, St. Bernard, Plaquemine Parish, I understand
the devastation that you've gone through as well. So does the Governor
--
GOVERNOR BLANCO: St. Tammany.
THE PRESIDENT: St. Tammany. So does the Governor, and so are the
senators. This is a devastating storm. This is a storm that's going to
require immediate action now. I'm pleased to report, thanks to the good
work of the adjutant general from Louisiana, and troops that have been
called in, that the convention center is secure. One of the objectives
that we had today was to move in and secure that convention center, and
make sure the good folks there got food and water.
The caravans -- the bus caravans are continuing on, as is the
airlift. The people of this part of the world have got to understand --
and by the way, we just came from the 17th Street levee. A lot of folks
are working hard to repair that levee. They've been working around the
clock, 24 hours a day. People from the federal government and the state
government and the local government are working to breach that -- to
fill that breach. The Mayor has been telling me, not only by telephone,
but here in person, how important it is that we get that breach filled
and get that pump station up and running. And we went there to inspect
the progress being done, and the people of New Orleans have got to
understand there's a lot of people working hard, and they're making good
progress.
You know, I'm going to fly out of her in a minute, but I want you to
know that I'm not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the
devastation requires more than one day's attention. It's going to
require the attention of this country for a long period of time. This is
a -- one of the worst natural disasters we have faced, with national
consequences. And therefore, there will be a national response. And I
look forward to continuing to work with the governor and the mayor and
the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to do our
duty to help the good folks of this part of the world get back on their
feet.
Here's what I believe. I believe that the great city of New Orleans
will rise again and be a greater city of New Orleans. (Applause.) I
believe the town where I used to come from, Houston, Texas, to enjoy
myself -- occasionally too much -- (laughter) -- will be that very same
town, that it will be a better place to come to. That's what I believe.
I believe the great state of Louisiana will get its feet back and become
a vital contributor to the country.
I believe the people of Mississippi will recover. I understand we got
a lot of work to do. And I understand it seems dark right now, but by
working together and pulling together and capturing that great spirit of
our country, a great city will rise again, a great state will be
vibrant.
If you want to help, if you're listening to this broadcast,
contribute cash to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. There will be
other opportunities to give, and we hope you do give. But right now, we
need cash to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. They're on the front
lines providing help to the people who need help.
May God bless the people of this part of the world, and may God
continue to bless our country. Thank you very much. (Applause.)