    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [September 25, 2005]
    [Pages 1484-1485]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Joint Field Office in
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    September 25, 2005

        The President. Thank you all. The Governor and I just got briefed by
    Admiral Allen on the progress here in
    Louisiana. There's still assessment on the damage of Hurricane Rita. One
    of the things that is important for the citizens of this State to do is
    to listen to the Governor about when it is okay to return back to your
    homes. I know a lot of people want to get back home. It's important that
    there be an orderly process. It's important there be an assessment done
    of infrastructure, and it's important for the people of the affected
    areas of Louisiana to listen carefully to the Governor and local authorities about the proper timing of
    return home.
        We also got briefed on the levees in New Orleans. There is flooding,
    obviously, in the

    [[Page 1485]]

    ninth ward. The Corps of Engineers gave us a briefing about the
    building--repairing levees and then, once again, pumping the water out
    of that part of New Orleans. It's--I would say it's an optimistic
    appraisal, in the sense that work has started now, and they can start
    to--draining that part of the city again.
        But I'm here to really thank the people in the Operations Center for
    their hard work and their dedication to helping the people of Louisiana
    recover from a second major storm in a very quick period of time.
        Governor, thank you for your
    hospitality, again. I know you've been through a lot, and I know the
    people of this State have been through a lot. We ask for God's blessings
    on them and their families.
        Thank you.
        Governor Blanco. Well, we want
    to welcome you back. I'm sorry that we brought you back under another
    stressful event. But we do appreciate your support. And I do want to
    tell you how much we appreciated watching all of the integrated forces
    at work as one. And as we talked, I know that it was possible to do it
    quickly, and to move in as one, with Federal, State, and local folks
    working all together.
        We talked about what happens next here and how quickly we could
    marshal the right kind of forces again. And I think that, together,
    we're going to work out some very important plans that citizens of the
    United States can feel will work very effectively and efficiently.
        Thank you.
        The President. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:08 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; and Vice Adm. Thad W.
    Allen, USCG, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Staff.