[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[August 29, 1992]
[Pages 1450-1452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters on Disaster Relief Efforts
August 29, 1992

    The President. Let me just bring you all up to date. Yesterday I 
talked to the Governor of Guam, Governor Ada. His main problem there is 
getting that airport to function, getting generators in to get water 
going for the people. The military have responded superbly here. And 
those problems, thank heavens, are less extensive than the problems in 
Florida or Louisiana. But nevertheless, there are a lot of people 
hurting there, and we're trying to help them in every way possible.
    I talked to Governor Edwards of Louisiana yesterday. He expressed 
his appreciation for the Federal support. I've just had a briefing from 
General Sullivan as to what the military have done. And of course, if 
their pockets need additional support, we're prepared to give additional 
support. But again, that one is a little further along now. It's getting 
into the reconstruction phase of things.
    As to Florida, General Sullivan and Andy Card and Wally Stickney, 
who's the head of FEMA, have briefed us; Admiral Jeremiah of the Joint 
Chiefs and, of course, Secretary Atwood helping out along the way.
    First, I think the cooperation from the military has been absolutely 
outstanding. We've just reviewed the status of the Federal, State, and 
then the local efforts in Florida to help the people in the aftermath of 
Andrew. The mobilization I ordered of nearly 7,000 Federal troops in 
addition to the 5,000 National Guardsmen is well underway. Significant 
progress is being made in delivering food, water, shelter, and other 
basic necessities to the people of the region.
    I am today ordering an additional 5,000 military troops be sent in 
order to increase existing services such as the provision of food, 
kitchens, tents, and delivery of shelter-related items. We're also 
sending more medical units with doctors who are capable of advising and 
treating patients in the area.
    I'm also augmenting our current effort in the following way: I'm 
making available nearly $300 million to help the delivery of services by 
FEMA, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Small 
Business Administration--$300 million. Fur- thermore, I intend to submit 
a supplemental appropriations request as soon as Congress returns in 
whatever amount necessary

[[Page 1451]]

to respond to the human needs on the ground in Florida and Louisiana 
and, if need be, in Guam.
    I want to emphasize that we intend to respond to this crisis on a 
human level, block by block, right out there where these people live. 
People have lost their homes and their possessions, and we want to reach 
out to people so they don't have to leave what few possessions they have 
and leave the familiar surroundings that they have lived in.
    We've made it known again today to Governor Chiles that I am 
prepared to federalize the National Guard at any time. I repeat that 
offer now. The Governor, city managers, and other local officials are 
doing an excellent job at reaching out to help their citizens. This is a 
time for all of us to pull together.
    I also want to announce an agreement that's been reached today with 
the State of Florida to provide an additional $127.2 million in 
emergency food stamps for the people of Dade County. I've received a 
full report today on our military and our civilian efforts to help. I am 
satisfied that everyone is dedicated to pulling out all of the stops to 
help the people of Florida recover from this enormous disaster.
    I am grateful to the men on the ground, men and women of the 
military who are performing with the same excellence that this country's 
come to expect. And I am grateful to Andy Card and Wally Stickney for 
what they're doing. It's a massive problem of coordination and 
distribution, but I am determined that we will get on top of it and that 
we will see these problems solved. It's not easy. But we're moving with 
a lot of effort here, a lot of people, to get the job done.
    Q. Mr. President, do you as President bear some responsibility for 
the delay in Federal help?
    The President. We're not talking about delay. The military was ready 
to move instantly, hot planning right from the very beginning. And 
there's no point going back trying to dig up difficulty between one 
government agency or another. I said that yesterday, and I'll repeat it 
today. What I'd like to see is somebody tell what exactly is happening 
down there and what people are trying to do.
    Q. Governor Clinton suggested, sir, that the Federal response should 
be looked into to see how it could be improved, said that he's not 
criticizing you but thinks that it should be looked into. What's your 
response to that?
    The President. Well, I don't respond to Governor Clinton on these 
matters. We have a national emergency here, and we're trying to get this 
job done. And I have full confidence in the people that are trying to 
get the job done.
    I don't take that as critical. If there are ways to improve what 
we're doing, fine. But this isn't a business of second-guessing; it's a 
business of trying to help people. And that's what we're about here. 
Again, I salute those who are involved. Andy Card had hardly any sleep 
down there working with these local officials. Governor Chiles is being 
as cooperative as he possibly can; same with the Senators down there, 
one Democrat and one Republican, trying to help us, Senator Graham, 
Senator Mack.
    And so I look for the positive things in a matter of this nature. 
We're not going around trying to find blame or make some politics out of 
a national disaster.
    Q. Do you have even a ballpark idea of how much additional money 
might be needed?
    The President. I don't think we have any estimates on that. Director 
Darman is here, who has the total view in mind. But we haven't--unless 
Wally, did you want to----
    Director Stickney. No, sir, I think it's too early.
    Q. Mr. President, any response to Clinton's suggestion or charge 
that you're distorting his tax record and his claim----
    The President. No. We're talking about something that's very serious 
business here, and I'm going to keep on this subject. I want the 
American people to understand what we're trying to do to solve this big 
problem, Federal, State, and local governments working together. And 
it's a very impressive effort. I think the people of this community who 
have been heartbroken and scared, wondering where their meals are coming 
from, are now seeing--and certainly those that are not seeing will see--

[[Page 1452]]

that this is a magnificent response, local, State, and Federal, with an 
awful lot of credit to the U.S. military who once again have performed 
admirably.
    Those who want to dramatically cut the military, they ought to take 
another look when it comes to being prepared to do things of this 
nature.
    Q. Sir, do you think your handling of this will be viewed in any way 
by the electorate down in Florida in a particular way?
    The President. Look, may I tell you something? This may be hard for 
you to believe: I am thinking about what's good for the people here. I 
don't even think about the politics of it. We're trying to help people.
    I see a bunch of people running around interviewing people who have 
been thrown out of their homes by a natural disaster, saying how do the 
politics work. Good heavens, isn't there any honor here? Can't we help 
people without having somebody try to put a political interpretation on 
it? I mean, heaven sakes, we have people that are hurting out there. And 
then to try to cast it politically, I'm sorry, I just simply find that a 
little bit outrageous.
    And it's happening all over Florida, I'm told today by the local 
head of one of these communities, Homestead, that's been hit so badly. 
He said he's just shocked by it. That's the way it is. That's the way it 
is.
    Q. ----Mr. President, from your responding much quicker, at least 
going down there quicker than you went to South Carolina or California?
    The President. I think we've responded properly, and I think history 
will show that.

                    Note: The President spoke at 4:13 p.m. in the 
                        Cabinet Room at the White House. In his remarks, 
                        he referred to Gen. Gordon Sullivan, Army Chief 
                        of Staff in charge of the Federal forces 
                        involved in the recovery efforts in Florida.