[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 36 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Pages 1349-1350]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts in Kenner, Louisiana

September 2, 2005

    The President. Listen, I want to thank the Governor of Louisiana and 
the mayor of New Orleans, Senator Landrieu, Senator Vitter and 
Congressman Jefferson, Congressman Jindal and General Blum. I have just 
completed a tour of some devastated country. I started in Alabama and 
worked our way down through Mississippi and ended up here in one of 
America's great cities and saw first-hand the devastation that this city 
has gone through. I know the people of this part of the world are 
suffering, and I want them to know that there's a flow of progress. 
We're making progress. I want to thank the Governor for her hard work, 
and I want to thank the mayor.
    I know there's some of the folks in the outlying parishes here in 
Louisiana wondering whether or not people are paying attention to them. 
We are. St. Charles, St. Bernard, Plaquemine Parish, I understand the 
devastation that you've gone through as well. So does the Governor----
    Governor Blanco. St. Tammany.
    The President. ----St. Tammany. So does the Governor, and so are the 
Senators. This is a devastating storm. This is a storm that's going to 
require immediate action now. I'm pleased to report, thanks to the good 
work of the adjutant general from Louisiana and troops that have been 
called in, that the convention center is secure. One of the objectives 
that we had today was to move in and secure that convention center and 
make sure the good folks there got food and water.
    The caravans--the bus caravans are continuing on, as is the airlift. 
The people of this part of the world have got to understand--and by the 
way, we just came from the 17th Street levee. A lot of folks are working 
hard to repair that levee. They've been working around the clock, 24 
hours a day. People from the Federal Government and the State government 
and the local government are working to breach that--to fill that 
breach. The mayor has been telling me, not only by telephone but here in 
person, how important it is that we get that breach filled and get that 
pump station up and running. And we went there to inspect the progress 
being done, and the people of New Orleans have got to understand, 
there's a lot of people working hard, and they're making good progress.
    You know, I'm going to fly out of here in a minute, but I want you 
to know that I'm not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the 
devastation requires more than one day's attention. It's going to 
require the attention of this country for a long period of time. This is 
a--one of the worst natural disasters we have faced, with national 
consequences. And therefore, there will be a national response. And I 
look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the mayor and 
the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to do our 
duty to help the good folks of this part of the world get back on their 
feet.
    Here's what I believe. I believe that the great city of New Orleans 
will rise again and be a greater city of New Orleans. I believe the town 
where I used to come from, Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally 
too much--[laughter]--will be that very same town, that it will be a 
better place to come to. That's what I believe. I believe the great 
State of Louisiana will get its feet back and become a vital contributor 
to the country.
    I believe the people of Mississippi will recover. I understand we 
got a lot of work to do. And I understand it seems dark right now, but 
by working together and pulling together and capturing that great spirit 
of our country, a great city will rise again, a great State will be 
vibrant.

[[Page 1350]]

    If you want to help, if you're listening to this broadcast, 
contribute cash to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. There will be 
other opportunities to give, and we hope you do give. But right now, we 
need cash to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. They're on the 
frontlines providing help to the people who need help.
    May God bless the people of this part of the world, and may God 
continue to bless our country. Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 5:01 p.m. at Louis Armstrong New Orleans 
International Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Kathleen 
Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans, LA; 
and Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, Adjutant General for Louisiana. 
This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate 
issue.