[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 39 (Monday, October 3, 2005)]
[Pages 1460-1461]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Joint Field Office in 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

September 25, 2005

    The President. Thank you all. The Governor and I just got briefed by 
Admiral Allen on the progress here in Louisiana. There's still 
assessment on the damage of Hurricane Rita. One of the things that is 
important for the citizens of this State to do is to listen to the 
Governor about when it is okay to return back to your homes. I know a 
lot of people want to get back home. It's important that there be an 
orderly process. It's important there be an assessment done of 
infrastructure. And it's important for the people of the affected areas 
of Louisiana to listen carefully to the Governor and local authorities 
about the proper timing of return home.
    We also got briefed on the levees in New Orleans. There is flooding, 
obviously, in the 9th ward. The Corps of Engineers gave us a briefing 
about the building--repairing levees and then, once again, pumping the 
water out of that part of New Orleans. It's--I would say it's an 
optimistic appraisal, in the sense that work has started now, and they 
can start to--draining that part of the city again.

[[Page 1461]]

    But I'm here to really thank the people in the Operations Center for 
their hard work and their dedication to helping the people of Louisiana 
recover from a second major storm in a very quick period of time.
    Governor, thank you for your hospitality, again. I know you've been 
through a lot, and I know the people of this State have been through a 
lot. We ask for God's blessings on them and their families.
    Thank you.
    Governor Blanco. Well, we want to welcome you back. I'm sorry that 
we brought you back under another stressful event. But we do appreciate 
your support. And I do want to tell you how much we appreciated watching 
all of the integrated forces at work as one. And as we talked, I know 
that it was possible to do it quickly, and to move in as one, with 
Federal, State, and local folks working all together.
    We talked about what happens next here and how quickly we could 
marshal the right kind of forces again. And I think that, together, 
we're going to work out some very important plans that citizens of the 
United States can feel will work very effectively and efficiently.
    Thank you.
    The President. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 12:08 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; and Vice Adm. Thad W. 
Allen, USCG, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Staff.