[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 2 (Monday, January 16, 1995)]
[Page 48]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to California Flood Victims

January 11, 1995

    Good afternoon. I want to speak to you today about the ferocious 
floods now battering California.
    In recent times, unrelenting rains have ravaged many places across 
our great country, rains that have destroyed people's homes, devastated 
families, carried away the fruits of many, many years of hard work. 
There can be no greater challenge to a community than facing down these 
terrifying tides. Yet that is what Americans can do so well. And that is 
what you, the people of California, are doing at this very minute.
    I want you to know that you have my support and the support of our 
administration to fight this battle the way it has to be fought. Late 
last night, I declared a major disaster across California and asked 
James Lee Witt, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
to oversee our efforts to quickly provide the necessary assistance and 
to get you moving on the road to recovery. At 1 o'clock our time last 
night, he assured me that that is exactly what he would do. We're 
working closely with Governor Wilson, Senator Boxer, and Senator 
Feinstein, with all the local, State, and Federal officials to fight the 
flooding.
    Let me say a special word of thanks to all the young volunteers from 
AmeriCorps, our national service program, and the other volunteers for 
the quick and good work they have done and are doing. Californians have 
proven over the last few years they have a very resilient spirit. And in 
a great sense of community, with the earthquakes and the fires, you have 
shown that you're a people who can come together in times of crisis and 
overcome those crises.
    Our administration has stood with you. Almost a year ago, those of 
you in the Los Angeles area were awakened by that terrible quake. We 
stood by you then, by making available billions of dollars and thousands 
of workers to help in the rebuilding effort, and we'll stand with you 
again.
    Hillary and I send our thoughts and our prayers to the families 
whose loved ones have died and the thousands of you whose lives have 
been disrupted. We wish you well. We'll get through this in good 
American style.

Note: The President spoke at 3:02 p.m. by satellite from the Roosevelt 
Room at the White House.