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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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October
2005
Volume
9 - Number 1 |
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As of today, President Bush has made at total of 20
official speeches on Katrina. The speeches were made in Washington DC
as well as in the affected areas when he visited the sites and met with the
victims, the volunteers, the troops as well as the federal, state and local
officials. Among all speeches, the main declaration was made on September
15, 2005 where the President outlined three major commitments for recovery
along the Gulf Coast:
To meet the immediate needs of those who have had to leave all behind. The Department of Homeland Security is registering evacuee households in shelters, churches, and private homes near and far from the Gulf Coast. The President has signed an order providing immediate assistance to people from the disaster area. Currently, more than 500,000 evacuee families have received emergency help to pay for food, clothing, and other essentials. Many families were separated during the evacuation and should call 1-877-568-3317 for help. To help the citizens of the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives and their communities. The government will ensure that the needs of schools and students will be met; health care provision will be continued; housing will be provided in the short term for first responders and workers; coordination with local leaders will be strengthened to rebuild a stronger Gulf Coast; the Taxpayer Dollars will be spent responsibly. To rebuilt even better and stronger than before. The President proposed the establishment of Gulf Opportunity Zone; Worker Recovery Accounts; Urban Homesteading Initiative; Public participation for the relief, among others, through Bush and Clinton private fundraising www.BushClintonKatrinaFund.org; information clearinghouse www.usafreedomcorps.gov; and immediate review of preparedness in every major American City. He promised to learn the lessons from Katrina as he realized that the response of government at all levels was not equal to the magnitude of Katrina's destruction. He will work with the Congress in performing oversight function. Below is the chronology of the President’s declarations: 09/20/2005 Speaks at the Governor’s Commission Briefing in Mississippi and to the Travel Pool in Louisiana 09/15/2005 Addresses Hurricane Relief to the Nation 09/12/2005 Visits school in Gulfport, Mississippi; Discusses Hurricane relief in Louisiana with Lieutenant General Honore 09/10/2005 Addresses Highlights of Hurricane Katrina Activities; directs public to USA Freedom Corps 09/08/2005 Proclaims Friday, September 16, 2005, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina 09/06/2005 Discusses efforts to assist students and school districts; meet with representative from National Voluntary Organizations 09/05/2005 Thanks workers at the Emergency Operations Center; Thanks Volunteers at Shelter in Louisiana; visits residents of Poplarvillle in Mississippi 09/04/2005 Visits Disaster Operations Center of the American Red Cross 09/03/2005 Addresses the nation, discusses Katrina Relief Efforts 09/02/2005 Speaks after a walking tour of Biloxi 09/01/2005 Speaks on the National Preparedness Month, 2005; asks Bush and Clinton to assist in Hurricane Relief Efforts 08/31/2005 First official address on Katrina |