[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.