[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HURRICANE GUSTAV'S IMPACT ON LOUISIANA

  (Mr. CAZAYOUX asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CAZAYOUX. Mr. Speaker, this past Labor Day, Hurricane Gustav made 
landfall in Cocodrie, Louisiana. It packed sustained winds of up to 110 
miles per hour and tore across the State, uprooting trees and damaging 
property along its way.
  Many across the country watched as the levees of New Orleans held. 
Miraculously and thankfully, they held. As the levees held, the media 
left and did not see the vast destruction left behind in the Baton 
Rouge area. It was the worst storm to hit the Baton Rouge area in its 
history. Louisiana has many people to thank for their efforts in 
helping in this time of great need, the first responders, its parish 
and local officials, the National Guardsmen and women, and the States 
who sent their men and women to Louisiana to help in this time of need.
  Since then, Hurricane Ike has hit and has reinforced the notion that 
natural disasters and the damages they inflict cannot be avoided. We 
can only hope to respond as best as possible to minimize that 
aftereffects. It is our job as Congressmen and women to aid our fellow 
citizens in this time of greatest need.
  Over the next 2 weeks, I urge my colleagues to ensure that the 
victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are not left behind and that we 
continue to improve the Federal Government's, and particularly FEMA's, 
response to natural disasters.

                          ____________________