Sept. 24 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

opened up their homes, their wallets, and and the compassionate soul of our Nation their hearts to the victims of Katrina. And will help us rebuild. with the arrival of another violent storm, Thank you for listening. our neighbors in the gulf coast will need continued help. Our fellow citizens in the NOTE: The address was recorded at 12:50 affected areas can know they can count on p.m. on September 23 in the Cabinet Room the good hearts of the American people. at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 The past 3 weeks have tested our Nation a.m. on September 24. The transcript was and revealed the strength and resilience of made available by the Office of the Press our people. Americans have the determina- Secretary on September 23 but was embar- tion and the will to overcome any challenge goed for release until the broadcast. The Of- from man or nature. The courageous spirit fice of the Press Secretary also released a of America will carry us through any storm, Spanish language transcript of this address.

Remarks at the Texas Emergency Operations Center in Austin, Texas September 24, 2005

Listen, I want to stop by to thank you on the highways. And so I would ask for all for the hard work you’re doing. I appre- those of you in the State to—who are in ciate Senator Hutchison and Cornyn, Con- safe places now, not to hurry back to a gressman DeLay, Governor Perry. city like Houston and let these highways First of all, the people of the State are flow the necessary goods and services to counting on you. And I know you’re work- the people in deep east Texas who have ing hard, and I appreciate the response. been affected. Nobody asks for these things, but when I know for a lot of folks in this State, they come, we have a duty. I’m really here it’s miserable times. I hope you can take to let the folks in Texas know that the some comfort knowing there’s a lot of peo- Federal Government knows we have a re- ple—like the people in this room—who are sponsibility to support you in the mission working overtime to save you and to help of saving lives, first and foremost, and then you, and that I think you’ll be amazed by help and rebuild their lives. the extraordinary compassion of the people There’s some issues that we’ve been of Texas as they rise up to help their fellow briefed on that I think it’s important for citizens in need. our fellow citizens to understand, in Texas, At any rates, it’s good to see you all. that for those who feel like they need to Thank you for your hard work. May God get back to a city like Houston, it’s impor- bless those who have been affected, and tant to delay your trip so that essential per- may God bless those who are helping those sonnel are able to get to the affected areas. who have been affected, and may God bless We’ve got—we’re moving assets—military the country. Thank you. assets, for example—trying to help people who need help, and if the highways are clogged, it’s going to make it hard to get those assets into the affected areas. Houston hospitals, for example, are in NOTE: The President spoke at 3:12 p.m. In need of nurses. Nurses who are now trying his remarks, he referred to Gov. Rick Perry to get back in are having problems getting of Texas.

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Remarks on Arrival in San Antonio, Texas September 24, 2005

The President. Mr. Mayor, thanks—[in- is now responding to the storm that’s af- audible]—and the Judge. It’s good to see fecting east Texas. I briefed today up in you all, thanks. It’s good to be back in Colorado about the Federal Government’s San Antonio. response to the storm and then went to The country and the world has seen the Austin to be briefed by the State officials, great compassion of the Texas people after to make sure that we’re working in concert Hurricane Katrina. Over 300,000 people with the State. And then tomorrow morning moved east to west, and they found home General Clark is going to come over and here in Texas. And the city of San Antonio, brief me once again about how the Federal Mr. Mayor, and Judge, was—really rose up Government is helping the State of Texas with great compassion. And I cannot thank and Louisiana recover. you enough and the people of this city But at any rate, it’s good to be back enough, for providing safe haven for people here. I’m proud of my fellow Texans, and whose lives were turned upside down by I’m proud of the people of the San Anto- this horrific storm. And it made me so nio. proud to be from the State of Texas, to Mayor Hardberger. Well, we’re mighty see the Texans rise to the occasion. glad to have you here, Mr. President. Again, I want to thank you, Mayor, and Thank you for being with us. thank all the—— The President. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Phil Hardberger. Thank you, Mr. Thank you all. President. The President. ——houses of worship NOTE: The President spoke at 4:26 p.m. at and community groups and individuals who Randolph Air Force Base. In his remarks, love their neighbor like they’d like to be he referred to Mayor Phil Hardberger of San loved themselves. Antonio, TX; Bexar County Judge Nelson W. We’re now dealing with another storm, Wolff; and Lt. Gen. Robert T. Clark, USA, and the State of Texas is prepared for and commander, Joint Task Force—Rita.

Remarks During a Briefing on Hurricane Rita in San Antonio September 25, 2005

[The briefing is joined in progress.] The President. Your point is, on a The President. Yes, having said that about Katrina, had there been a better coordi- Katrina, there were still some amazingly he- nated effort between Guard choppers— roic efforts in pulling people off roofs. I Coast Guard choppers, regular Army chop- don’t know how many sorties were flown pers, it would have been less dangerous? in Katrina, but there must have been thou- Maj. Gen. White. It would have been sands of sorties. a better orchestrated plan. You wouldn’t Maj. Gen. White. Well, as I left last have seen a lot of—for instance, one of Wednesday, it was close to 18,000 sorties the things that we’ve learned out of that— flown. Now, sir, that includes every agency, we had someone that needed to be res- and it’s a lot of the airlift in there too. cued, and that comes up on the net. Five

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