Published: September 03, 2005
Bush Vows to Overcome Hurricane Katrina Disaster
President authorizes additional funds, manpower to aid Gulf Coast
A day after his visit to the stricken Gulf Coast region of the United States, where he surveyed what he called "the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters ever to strike America," President Bush broke with precedent on September 3 and delivered a live address from the White House Rose Garden in lieu of his usual taped weekly radio address.
With senior administration officials at his side, Bush praised emergency workers' efforts since Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana earlier in the week. "They've been working around the clock, risking their own lives to save the lives of others," the president said.
He acknowledged, however, that "despite their best efforts, the magnitude of responding to a crisis over a disaster area that is larger than the size of Great Britain has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities. The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable."
The president reported that there are now more than 21,000 National Guard troops in the region, and "more are on the way." He then announced that an additional force of 7,000 active duty troops from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps would arrive in the affected areas over the next three days.
"Yesterday I also signed a $10.5 billion emergency aid package to fund our ongoing relief efforts," Bush noted, calling it "a down payment on what will be a sustained federal commitment to our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast."
The president asserted that "the federal government will do its part. Where our response is not working, we'll make it right. Where our response is working, we will duplicate it. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters all along the Gulf Coast, and we will not rest until we get this right and the job is done."
He acknowledged that a state of emergency still existed in the region, but added that "our nation has the character, the resources, and the resolve to overcome this disaster. We will comfort and care for the victims. We will restore the towns and neighborhoods that have been lost in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We'll rebuild the great city of New Orleans. And we'll once again show the world that the worst adversities bring out the best in America."
Source: U.S. Department of State
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