[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[August 30, 1992]
[Pages 1452-1453]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Hurricane Andrew Disaster Relief
August 30, 1992

     The President. Let me simply say that this meeting is just a 
follow-on meeting. The Secretaries and Administrators here are able to 
help the victims of the hurricane, and I'm going to hear from them, each 
of them, as to what their Departments can do. We'll figure out how to 
follow up.
    Over the weekend I was in touch with the manager of Homestead, city 
manager Alex Muxo; talked to the director of public safety of Dade 
County, Fred Taylor, and to Otis Wallace, one of the top officials in 
Florida City; and then General Sullivan called in with a good report as 
to what they're doing. And I must say I think progress is being made. 
And now we need to follow up with our Agencies and Departments in every 
way that we possibly can to assist the victims of this storm.
    I might say for the benefit of the reporters here, as far as we're 
concerned, cooperation between the State and Federal is good. I've 
talked with General Sullivan about the coordination between the Guard 
and the regular Army, and he felt that that's in good shape, as did the 
director of public safety of Dade County. So I think real progress is 
being made, but there's still an awful lot of human suffering there. And 
what we all are going to try to do is continue to move forward as fast 
as we can to help alleviate that.
    Q. Mr. President, some people have suggested that additional funding 
is going to be essential to help the people of southern Florida. Are you 
prepared to ask Congress now for additional funding?
    The President. Yes. I think I made that statement the other day, 
that we are prepared. As soon as we get the estimates that are pouring 
in every day, why, we will go forward.
    Q. Do you have any idea how much you'll be asking for?
    The President. I don't have it now.

[[Page 1453]]

                    Note: The President spoke at 11:05 a.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.