    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [August 2, 2006]
    [Page 1485]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Tour of the Lake County Emergency Management Agency
    in Mentor, Ohio
    August 2, 2006

        I have just been briefed by the emergency management teams of Lake
    County and the other counties affected by the recent flooding. Law
    enforcement was there; firefighters were there; and our FEMA
    representative was there at the briefing.
        A couple of impressions: One, the local response was really good.
    The interoperability between various jurisdictions was superb. And as a
    result, a lot of people's lives were saved. And I want to congratulate
    you, Sheriff, and congratulate
    Larry for your good work in helping people.
        Secondly, FEMA has been on the ground here, and I signed a major
    disaster declaration for this part of the country, which means this:
    That individuals will be helped. Individuals will be helped with rental
    assistance; individuals will be helped with temporary housing;
    individuals will be helped with grants to help rebuild their homes; and
    small businesses will be helped with low-interest loans. In other words,
    the first wave of help from the Federal Government as a result of these
    disasters is now available for people whose lives were affected by the
    flooding.
        There are still assessments going on for further Federal help and
    Federal assistance, and when those assessments are made, the proper help
    will be granted. For those people who are wondering about the Federal
    help, there's toll-free numbers. You can call the emergency center,
    they'll give you the toll-free numbers if you've been a citizen affected
    by these recent floods.
        Again, I want to congratulate you all for a job well done. I had the
    honor of talking to dispatchers, hard-working people that are on the
    phone all the time helping people. And now, once the lives have been
    saved, with the exception of one soul, that it's now time to help the
    people rebuild their lives. There's a lot of people concerned and a lot
    of people working here, and the Federal Government will do its part with
    the local authorities.
        Thank you all very much. Appreciate you.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:47 p.m. at the Lake County Emergency
    Operations and Communications Center. In his remarks, he referred to
    Jesse Munoz, Federal Coordinating Officer, Federal Emergency Management
    Agency; Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap of Lake County, OH; and Larry D.
    Greene, director, Lake County Emergency Management Agency.