    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [October 25, 2007]
    [Pages 1385-1387]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Tour of Areas Damaged by Wildfires and an Exchange
    With Reporters in San Diego, California
    October 25, 2007

        The President. The Senator and the
    Congressman and the
    Governor and I have come up here to
    survey firsthand the terrible devastations done by the fires here in the
    San Diego area. We've met the
    Jeffcoats, who came up this hill and went to
    what was their home. And we know how tough it is for you; 39 years of
    marriage, that's something that you didn't think you'd be dealing with
    after all this time. So we want to let you know that the American people
    care for people like you who are suffering. We appreciate your spirit;
    we really do. I think all of us who met you were very impressed by your
    determination to deal with this tough moment in your life and rebuild
    your lives.
        To the extent that people need help from the Federal Government, we
    will help. I am here, really, to make sure that the Federal effort works
    hand in glove with what the Governor has been doing. The Governor has taken the lead down here,
    and he's done a fine job. The thing I like about Governor
    Schwarzenegger, he says, ``You show me a problem, I'll charge it; if you
    show me a hill, I'll go up it.'' And that's exactly what he's done.

    [[Page 1386]]

        And my job is to make sure that FEMA and the Defense Department and
    the Interior Department and Ag Department respond in a way that helps
    people get the job done. And that's what I'm here to listen to.
        I want to thank the Senator for joining
    me. On the flight down, we had a good conversation. She's deeply
    concerned about the citizens of California. She asked the right kind of
    questions, and, you know, we're going to give her the answers.
        And Congressman, thank you for joining
    us. This is his district. It's got to be tough for you to represent the
    good people here and know that people are suffering.
        But anyway, thanks for being here, and God bless you all.
        Kendra Jeffcoat. Thank you, President--
    --
        The President. God bless the people of this State. Thank you.
        Mrs. Jeffcoat. Thank you very much.
        Jay Jeffcoat. Thank you.

    Federal Response to Southern California Wildfires and Hurricane Katrina

        Q. Mr. President, a lot has been made about the contrast between
    this response and the Katrina response. Do you have any thoughts on that
    and how you're doing?
        The President. You better ask the Governor how we're doing. I will tell you this: On all these
    responses, the thing that has amazed me most is the courage of our
    first-responders. The firefighters here in this part of the world are
    incredibly brave people. The police force has done a fabulous job.
        And same in the Katrina area. I mean, I know there was a lot of
    criticism of effort, but remember, there was 33,000 people pulled off
    roofs by brave Coast Guard men and women flying those choppers. A lot of
    people's lives were saved.
        Representative Brian Bilbray. San Diego
    County has a centralized disaster response team made up of the county
    chairman as the chairman of the Disaster Council and every police chief
    and fire chief and mayor, so there's a network here that those of us in
    the Federal and the State level are able to come supplement. But the
    backbone of this response was the local providers, because they were
    organized. So the real heroes here are the providers, are the men and
    women working for the counties and the cities and the fire districts
    that really were here first and foremost, and we're just supplementing.
        The President. Yes, see, that's an interesting question. I
    appreciate you asking it. My hearts are with the Jeffcoats right now, that's
    what I'm thinking. I'm thinking about people whose lives turned upside
    down. The experts can try to figure out whether the response was perfect
    or not. All I can tell you is, when the Governor calls, I answer his phone. When the Governor says, ``We
    need this help; think about sending these troops here,'' I got on the
    phone; I called the appropriate people. I'm interested in helping him
    solve problems and helping the folks here at the county level. There's
    all kinds of time for historians to compare this response or that
    response, but those of us who are here from Government, our hearts are
    right here with the Jeffcoats; that's where we are.
        And I'm looking forward--and I know the Senator and Governor and
    Congressman is eating lunch with the
    firefighters. We can't thank people enough for putting their lives at
    risk to help a neighbor, and that's exactly what's taking place. If
    there needs to be more firefighters, we'll send more firefighters. Those
    are the kind of questions that we're asking; what does it take to get
    the job done?

    Fire-Suppression Equipped Airplanes

        Q. Mr. President, Congressman Hunter tried to get some of the C-130s
    here, and they are here, but they are still on the ground, and the
    National Guard won't let them fly. What seems to be the problem? We
    really need those because the flames continue to fan.

    [[Page 1387]]

        The President. I'll find out. I'll find out.
        Governor Arnold A. Schwarzenegger. I just want to add to this because I want to thank the
    President for coming out here today. I can tell you that when we saw on
    Monday the flames going out of control and it becoming really a major
    disaster, I told my assistant that we got to call the President and ask
    for help. And before I ever had a chance to make that phone call--I
    remember I was in the middle of a briefing--the President--I was in--I
    got the phone, they said, it's the President on the phone. And he called
    me, and he told me that he's really concerned about the fires here in
    California, and if anything he can do, anything that we need, we should
    let him know; that all his entire Cabinet and his whole staff, his team,
    everyone is available.
        So I call this quick action, I mean, quicker than I expected, I can
    tell you that. And since then, we've been talking every day on the
    phone. And we asked him for an emergency declaration; they got it within
    24 hours. We asked for a disaster declaration; we got that within 24
    hours. And then he called me back, and he says, ``I'm going to come out
    because I'm really concerned about the people in California and what
    they are going through. We want to make sure that we help them get back
    on their feet.'' And here he is.
        So I call this very unbelievable response from the Federal
    Government and the Bush administration, from everyone. And from Senator
    Feinstein--I want to thank you also for the great response, and she was
    calling us every hour and being concerned. So I would say this is really
    great response, and you cannot do this without everyone working
    together. And what we have seen here, unlike other disasters, I mean,
    how quickly the locals, the State, and the Federal Government came
    together, and everyone working together was really extraordinary to
    watch. So I want to thank everyone. I want to thank you again,
    President, for coming out here today and helping us.
        The President. Okay, thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:28 a.m. in the Rancho Bernardo
    neighborhood. In his remarks, he referred to Sen. Dianne Feinstein.