[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.