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.)