[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[August 24, 1992]
[Page 1405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Disaster Assistance for Florida Following Hurricane Andrew
August 24, 1992

    I just very briefly want to express my heartfelt concern to the 
people of Florida on this devastating storm. Apparently it's one of the 
worst, probably the worst in six decades. We've already gotten two FEMA 
teams, that's the Government emergency teams, down there in Florida. I 
will be declaring today that Florida is a disaster area. There will be 
27 agencies of the Government then ready to help in any way that the 
Federal Government can help.
    But I will be in touch during the day to see that everything runs 
smoothly and that we do everything we can to help the people down there. 
Apparently it was a very bad storm, a storm that kept the evaluation 
teams from sizing it up up until now, but I expect that'll change during 
the day. But it's a serious matter, and my heart goes out to the people 
in Florida.

                    Note: The President spoke at 8:06 a.m. on the South 
                        Lawn at the White House prior to his departure 
                        for Union, NJ.