    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [September 2, 2005]
    [Pages 1389-1391]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts in Kenner, Louisiana
    September 2, 2005

        The President. Listen, I want to thank the Governor of
    Louisiana and the mayor of New
    Orleans, Senator Landrieu, Senator Vitter and Congressman
    Jefferson, Congressman
    Jindal and General Blum. I have just completed a tour of some devastated
    country. I started in Alabama and worked our way down through
    Mississippi and

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    ended up here in one of America's great cities and saw firsthand the
    devastation that this city has gone through. I know the people of this
    part of the world are suffering, and I want them to know that there's a
    flow of progress. We're making progress. I want to thank the Governor
    for her hard work, and I want to thank the mayor.
        I know there's some of the folks in the outlying parishes here in
    Louisiana wondering whether or not people are paying attention to them.
    We are. St. Charles, St. Bernard, Plaquemine Parish, I understand the
    devastation that you've gone through as well. So does the Governor----

        Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. St. Tammany.
        The President. ----St. Tammany. So does the Governor, and so are the
    Senators. This is a devastating storm. This
    is a storm that's going to require immediate action now. I'm pleased to
    report, thanks to the good work of the adjutant general from Louisiana and troops that have been called
    in, that the convention center is secure. One of the objectives that we
    had today was to move in and secure that convention center and make sure
    the good folks there got food and water.
        The caravans--the bus caravans are continuing on, as is the airlift.
    The people of this part of the world have got to understand--and by the
    way, we just came from the 17th Street levee. A lot of folks are working
    hard to repair that levee. They've been working around the clock, 24
    hours a day. People from the Federal Government and the State government
    and the local government are working to breach that--to fill that
    breach. The mayor has been telling me, not only
    by telephone but here in person, how important it is that we get that
    breach filled and get that pump station up and running. And we went
    there to inspect the progress being done, and the people of New Orleans
    have got to understand, there's a lot of people working hard, and
    they're making good progress.
        You know, I'm going to fly out of here in a minute, but I want you
    to know that I'm not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the
    devastation requires more than one day's attention. It's going to
    require the attention of this country for a long period of time. This is
    a--one of the worst natural disasters we have faced, with national
    consequences. And therefore, there will be a national response. And I
    look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the mayor and the
    Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to do our duty to
    help the good folks of this part of the world get back on their feet.
        Here's what I believe. I believe that the great city of New Orleans
    will rise again and be a greater city of New Orleans. I believe the town
    where I used to come from, Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally
    too much--[laughter]--will be that very same town, that it will be a
    better place to come to. That's what I believe. I believe the great
    State of Louisiana will get its feet back and become a vital contributor
    to the country.
        I believe the people of Mississippi will recover. I understand we
    got a lot of work to do. And I understand it seems dark right now, but
    by working together and pulling together and capturing that great spirit
    of our country, a great city will rise again, a great State will be
    vibrant.
        If you want to help, if you're listening to this broadcast,
    contribute cash to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. There will be
    other opportunities to give, and we hope you do give. But right now, we
    need cash to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. They're on the
    frontlines providing help to the people who need help.
        May God bless the people of this part of the world, and may God
    continue to bless our country. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:01 p.m. at Louis Armstrong New Orleans
    International Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Gov.

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    Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New
    Orleans, LA; and Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, Adjutant General,
    Louisiana National Guard.