Project Katrina

I think it is important that Bush words are read and reread by every American on each anniversary they were made (September 2, 2005):

PRESIDENT BUSH: 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’ve just completed a tour of some devastated country. We started in Alabama, worked our way down to Mississippi and ended up here in one of America’s great cities and saw firsthand 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 that some of the folks in the outlying parishes here in
Louisiana wondered whether or not people are paying attention to them.

We are.

St. Charles, St. Bernard, Plaquemines Parish—I understand the devastation that you’ve gone through as well—St. Tammany—so does the governor; so do 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 in 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 people from the federal government and the state government and 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 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 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.

(APPLAUSE)

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’ve
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 and a great
state will be vibrant.

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 front lines of 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.