    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 39 (Monday, September 27, 2004)]
    [Pages 2049-2050]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting With First-Responders in Orange Beach,
    Alabama

    September 19, 2004

        Listen, thank you all for coming. Today I've been joined by Governor
    Riley and Governor Bush, Alabama and Florida, and Members of the Senate
    from Alabama, Sessions and Shelby, Congressman Jo Bonner, Congressman
    Miller from Florida, mayors from the affected areas, Mayor Russo,
    Bodenhamer, and Russell.
        The devastation caused by Ivan is terrible. This was a big storm
    that caused a lot of damage and a lot of suffering. And I want to thank
    the people that are working hard to bring some sense of order in the
    lives of these citizens, folks at the State level and at the local
    level. I want to thank the FEMA workers for laying the foundation for
    what is going to be a recovery.
        I was--I know people all across our country join me in praying for
    the families of those who suffered loss of life. I want to thank the
    search and rescue teams from all over the United States who are here,
    using every possible asset they have to find those who are still
    missing.
        We understand thousands don't have power. I want to thank the power
    companies that understand that they have an obligation and a duty to
    restore power as quickly as possible. There are a lot of people working
    for the power companies, a lot of people stringing line from all over
    the southeast of our country. I want to thank them for taking time to
    come down here and help the people sorely affected by this terrible
    storm.
        We toured the beaches in Florida and Alabama and saw how powerful
    this storm was. But the Governors and I fully understand there are
    people inland who have been affected. There are people in rural Alabama,
    small-town Alabama whose lives have been turned upside down by this
    storm as well, people in rural Florida who have been affected by this
    storm. And I want them to understand that when I talk about FEMA help,
    FEMA help not only extends to the beaches; it extends to people inland
    here in the State of Alabama and in Florida as well.
        The amazing thing about these catastrophes is how the American
    people rise to the occasion. The amazing thing about devastation is how
    there is such compassion in the face of such devastation. When I was
    visiting with some of the residents, they were telling me the amount
    of--number of people that have showed up just to provide help, people
    that have heard a call to love a neighbor in a time of distress. And I
    want to thank all those who have come to provide help to a neighbor in
    need.
        I want to appreciate our National Guard troops who are here for
    providing stability. I went to the National Guard bureau convention in
    Vegas the other day and quoted a woman from Florida, from the Punta
    Gorda area, who said it brought her such great comfort to see those who
    wear the uniform, and I appreciate you doing that.
        I want to thank the police and firefighters from this part of the
    world, who have been working overtime, for their compassion, for
    providing stability so people can, at some point in time, get their
    lives back in order.
        The Federal Government has a responsibility to provide aid as
    quickly as possible. FEMA Director Brown is with me today. He has done
    an excellent job on the two hurricanes that hit Florida earlier. He will
    do an excellent job on this hurricane as well in making sure that all
    Federal aid is coordinated well with the State and local governments,
    making sure all the aid that is available gets down here as quickly as
    possible.
        I also want to assure the farmers from this part of the world, the
    nurserymen in this part

    [[Page 2050]]

    of the world that we will have a plan worked out to help you, that we
    have an obligation at the Federal level to provide assistance, and that
    assistance will be detailed so you understand what kind of help is
    available. As well we understand--fully understand that the highways
    have been affected here, that many of the roads are impassible. We're
    going to work with Congress to ensure that highways and bridges are
    repaired as quickly as possible.
         I want to thank the--again, I want to thank the local officials for
    rising to the occasion. Most of all, I want to tell the citizens of this
    part of the world that we're praying for you, that we'll get help out
    here as quickly as we can, and that we ask God's blessings on you and
    your family.
         Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:01 p.m. at Orange Beach Fire and Rescue
    Station 1. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama;
    Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; Mayor Steve Russo of Orange Beach, AL; Mayor
    David L. Bodenhamer of Gulf Shores, AL; and Mayor Tim Russell of Foley,
    AL.