[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
[September 19, 2004]
[Pages 2114-2115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following a Meeting With First-Responders in Orange Beach, 
Alabama
September 19, 2004

    Listen, thank you all for coming. Today I've been joined by Governor 
Riley and Governor Bush, 
Alabama and Florida, and Members of the Senate from Alabama, 
Sessions and Shelby, Congressman Jo Bonner, Congressman 
Miller from Florida, mayors from the affected 
areas, Mayor Russo, Bodenhamer, and Russell.
    The devastation caused by Ivan is terrible. This was a big storm 
that caused a lot of damage and a lot of suffering. And I want to thank 
the people that are working hard to bring some sense of order in the 
lives of these citizens, folks at the State level and at the local 
level. I want to thank the FEMA workers for laying the foundation for 
what is going to be a recovery.
    I was--I know people all across our country join me in praying for 
the families of those who suffered loss of life. I want to thank the 
search and rescue teams from all over the United States who are here, 
using every possible asset they have to find those who are still 
missing.
    We understand thousands don't have power. I want to thank the power 
companies that understand that they have an obligation and a duty to 
restore power as quickly as possible. There are a lot of people working 
for the power companies, a lot of people stringing line from all over 
the southeast of our country. I want to thank them for taking time to 
come down here and help the people sorely affected by this terrible 
storm.
    We toured the beaches in Florida and Alabama and saw how powerful 
this storm was. But the Governors and I fully understand there are people inland who have 
been affected. There are people in rural Alabama, small-town Alabama 
whose lives have been turned upside down by this storm as well, people 
in rural Florida who have been affected by this storm. And I want them 
to understand that when I talk about FEMA help, FEMA help not only 
extends to the beaches; it extends to people inland here in the State of 
Alabama and in Florida as well.
    The amazing thing about these catastrophes is how the American 
people rise to the occasion. The amazing thing about devastation is how 
there is such compassion in the face of such devastation. When I was 
visiting with some of the residents, they were telling me the amount 
of--number of people that have showed up just to provide help, people 
that have heard a call to love a neighbor in a time of distress. And I 
want to thank all those who have

[[Page 2115]]

come to provide help to a neighbor in need.
    I want to appreciate our National Guard troops who are here for 
providing stability. I went to the National Guard bureau convention in 
Vegas the other day and quoted a woman from Florida, from the Punta 
Gorda area, who said it brought her such great comfort to see those who 
wear the uniform, and I appreciate you doing that.
    I want to thank the police and firefighters from this part of the 
world, who have been working overtime, for their compassion, for 
providing stability so people can, at some point in time, get their 
lives back in order.
    The Federal Government has a responsibility to provide aid as 
quickly as possible. FEMA Director Brown is with 
me today. He has done an excellent job on the two hurricanes that hit 
Florida earlier. He will do an excellent job on this hurricane as well 
in making sure that all Federal aid is coordinated well with the State 
and local governments, making sure all the aid that is available gets 
down here as quickly as possible.
    I also want to assure the farmers from this part of the world, the 
nurserymen in this part of the world that we will have a plan worked out 
to help you, that we have an obligation at the Federal level to provide 
assistance, and that assistance will be detailed so you understand what 
kind of help is available. As well we understand--fully understand that 
the highways have been affected here, that many of the roads are 
impassible. We're going to work with Congress to ensure that highways 
and bridges are repaired as quickly as possible.
     I want to thank the--again, I want to thank the local officials for 
rising to the occasion. Most of all, I want to tell the citizens of this 
part of the world that we're praying for you, that we'll get help out 
here as quickly as we can, and that we ask God's blessings on you and 
your family.
     Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 12:01 p.m. at Orange Beach Fire and Rescue 
Station 1. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama; 
Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; Mayor Steve Russo of Orange Beach, AL; Mayor 
David L. Bodenhamer of Gulf Shores, AL; and Mayor Tim Russell of Foley, 
AL.