    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [October 27, 2007]
    [Pages 1391-1393]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    October 27, 2007

        Good morning. On Thursday, I traveled to California to visit
    communities ravaged by wildfires. I walked with a married couple through the charred
    remains of their

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    home. I met with emergency responders. I talked with displaced families
    at a disaster assistance center. And I made a pledge to the people of
    California on behalf of all Americans: We will help you put out the
    fires, get through the crisis, and rebuild your lives.
        State and local authorities in California were well prepared for
    this crisis, and they responded quickly and effectively. Officials
    warned those in danger, moved residents out of the path of the flames,
    and set up dozens of shelters for thousands of people.
        State officials also reached out to the Federal Government for help,
    and we responded. Shortly after the fires broke out, we started
    mobilizing and providing assistance, including the deployment of Federal
    firefighters and aircraft to drop fire retardant on the fires. As high
    winds spread the fires, Governor Schwarzenegger requested more Federal help. Within 1 hour of that
    request, we approved an emergency declaration that authorized Federal
    Agencies across the Government to help State and local responders save
    lives, protect property, and maintain public health and safety.
        On Wednesday, I issued a second declaration. This action made
    additional Federal funding available to the residents of the counties
    affected by the wildfires so they can recover and rebuild. This Federal
    assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repair, low-
    cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, loans for small-business
    owners, and funding to help clean up debris.
        I was impressed by the performance of the first-responders I met in
    California. Despite the challenges of high winds and dry weather,
    firefighters are gaining the upper hand and earning the gratitude of
    their fellow citizens. Many of these brave men and women have battled
    the blaze in triple-digit heat. Some have worked around the clock. And
    more than once, firefighting teams were forced to take emergency shelter
    in their fire tents when threatened by approaching walls of flame. I was
    grateful for the opportunity to meet them, and I thank them for their
    courage.
        I was also encouraged by the spirit of the families I met. At one
    recovery center, I met an amazing young girl named Alyssa
    Lamborn. Alyssa told me, ``I lost my house,
    but I didn't lose my home because my family and my pets are safe.'' I
    saw this same spirit in many others who are grateful for their safety
    and determined to rebuild.
        People like Alyssa and her family are
    receiving help from their fellow Americans. Some have opened their homes
    to strangers who were evacuated and could not find a hotel room. Doctors
    and nurses have answered the call to help seniors who were forced from
    their nursing homes. And volunteers from every walk of life have come
    forward to provide food, clothing, and blankets, and a shoulder to lean
    on.
        I went to southern California with a message: We want you to know,
    the country cares for you. We're concerned about you, your
    neighborhoods, and your homes. Things may look dismal now, but there is
    a better day ahead. And we will not forget you in Washington, DC.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on October 26 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 27. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 26, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.

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