    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [September 23, 2005]
    [Pages 1477-1478]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and an Exchange With
    Reporters
    September 23, 2005

        The President. I stopped by the center to get a full briefing on
    Rita. We're now facing yet another big storm, and I appreciate the folks
    here who are working so hard to help the folks on the ground prepare for
    the storm.

        I'm going down to San Antonio to see the prepositioned assets, to
    understand the relationship--or that the Federal Government's role is to
    support State and local governments. I want to watch that happen. Then
    I'm going to go out to our NORTHCOM headquarters to watch the interface
    between our United States military and, again, the State and local
    authorities. Our job is to assist--prepare for and assist the State and
    local people to save lives and to help these people get back on their
    feet.

        Again, I want to thank the people here in Washington who are working
    with the folks in the--out in the field to do everything we possibly can
    to prepare for this second big storm that's coming into the Gulf of
    Mexico.

        Thank you all.

    President's Upcoming Visit to Texas and Colorado

        Q. Sir, what good can you do going down to the hurricane zone? Might
    you get in the way, Mr. President?
        The President. One thing I won't do is get in the way.
        Q. But I mean, how--what good can you actually do? I mean, isn't
    there a risk of you and your entourage getting in the way?
        The President. No, there will be no risk of me getting in the way, I
    promise you. We're going to make sure that we're not in the way of the
    operations. What I am going to do is observe the relationship between
    the State and local government, particularly out in Colorado Springs.
    That's what I want to see.
        See, NORTHCOM is the main entity that interfaces, that uses Federal
    assets, Federal troops to interface with local and State government. I
    want to watch that relationship. It's an important relationship, and I
    need to understand how it works better.
        Q. But critics might say this is overcompensation for the response
    to Katrina.

    [[Page 1478]]

        The President. We will make sure that my entourage does not get in
    the way of people doing their job, which will be search and rescue
    immediately. And rest assured, I understand that we must not and will
    not interfere with the important work that will be going forward.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:32 p.m.