    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [August 26, 2006]
    [Pages 1555-1556]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    August 26, 2006

        Good morning. Earlier this week, I had coffee with Rockey
    Vaccarella in the White House. Rockey is
    from St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana, and he and his family lost
    everything they owned to Hurricane Katrina. Rockey drove to Washington
    to thank the Federal Government for its efforts to help people like him,
    and he brought a trailer along to help remind us that many good people
    along our gulf coast are still living in difficult conditions and that
    the hard work of rebuilding has only just begun.
        This Tuesday marks the first anniversary of Katrina, one of the
    deadliest and most costly natural disasters in American history. In
    Mississippi, the storm wiped out virtually everything along an 80-mile
    stretch of the coast, flattening homes and destroying entire
    communities. In Louisiana, flooding left 80 percent of the city of New
    Orleans underwater. The human costs were even more terrible. More than a
    thousand people died, countless families lost their homes and
    livelihoods, and tens of thousands of men, women, and children were
    forced to flee the region and leave behind everything they knew.
        During the storm and in the days that followed, Americans responded
    with heroism and compassion. Coast Guard and other personnel rescued
    people stranded in flooded neighborhoods and brought them to high
    ground. Doctors and nurses stayed behind to care for their patients, and
    some even went without food so their patients could eat. Many of the
    first-responders risking their lives to help others were victims
    themselves, wounded healers, with a sense of duty greater than their own
    suffering. And across our great land, the armies of compassion rallied
    to bring food and water and hope to fellow citizens who had lost
    everything. In these and countless other selfless acts, we saw the
    spirit of America at its best.
        Unfortunately, Katrina also revealed that Federal, State, and local
    governments were

    [[Page 1556]]

    unprepared to respond to such an extraordinary disaster. And the
    floodwaters exposed a deep-seated poverty that has cut people off from
    the opportunities of our country. So last year, I made a simple pledge:
    The Federal Government would learn the lessons of Katrina; we would do
    what it takes, and we would stay as long as it takes to help our
    brothers and sisters build a new gulf coast, where every citizen feels
    part of the great promise of America.
        That was the same pledge I repeated to Rockey during his visit to the White House. This pledge meant
    stronger levees and rebuilt homes and new infrastructure. It also means
    safe streets and neighborhoods filled with locally-owned businesses and
    more opportunities for everyone.
        Next week Laura and I will return to
    Mississippi and New Orleans to meet with local citizens and officials
    and review the progress we have made. The Federal Government has
    conducted a thorough review of its response to natural disasters, and
    we're making reforms that will improve our response to future
    emergencies. With help from Congress, we have committed $110 billion to
    the recovery effort, and we are playing a vital role in helping people
    clear debris, repair and rebuild their homes, reopen their businesses
    and schools, and put their lives back together.
        The Federal Government will continue to do its part. Yet a reborn
    gulf coast must reflect the needs, the vision, and the aspirations of
    the people of Mississippi and Louisiana. And their State and local
    officials have a responsibility to help set priorities and make tough
    decisions, so people can plan their futures with confidence.
        One year after the storms, the gulf coast continues down the long
    road to recovery. In Mississippi and Louisiana, we can see many
    encouraging signs of recovery and renewal, and many reminders that hard
    work still lies ahead. This work will require the sustained commitment
    of our Government, the generosity and compassion of the American people,
    and the talent and vision of people determined to restore their homes,
    neighborhoods, and cities. We will stay until the job is done, and by
    working together, we will help our fellow citizens along the gulf coast
    write a new future of hope, justice, and opportunity for all.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:25 a.m. on August 24 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 26. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    August 25 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.