Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) is Non-Profit Organization, working to unite and Organize all Baloch in North America, to expose the Occupation and Oppressive policies of Pakistani and Iranian Governments against Baloch people and our Baloch land (Balochistan), and to bring their Human Rights Violations in Balochistan into the world’s Notice. |
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President Outlines Hurricane Katrina Relief
Efforts.
The Rose Garden
5:11 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I've just received an update from Secretary
Chertoff and other Cabinet Secretaries involved on the latest
developments in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. As
we flew here today, I also asked the pilot to fly over the Gulf
Coast region so I could see firsthand the scope and
magnitude of the devastation.
Efforts.
The Rose Garden
5:11 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I've just received an update from Secretary
Chertoff and other Cabinet Secretaries involved on the latest
developments in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. As
we flew here today, I also asked the pilot to fly over the Gulf
Coast region so I could see firsthand the scope and
magnitude of the devastation.
The vast majority of New Orleans, Louisiana is under water. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses
are beyond repair. A lot of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been completely destroyed. Mobile is flooded. We
are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history.
And that's why I've called the Cabinet together. The people in the affected regions expect the federal
government to work with the state government and local government with an effective response. I have
directed Secretary of Homeland Security Mike Chertoff to chair a Cabinet-level task force to coordinate all our
assistance from Washington. FEMA Director Mike Brown is in charge of all federal response and recovery
efforts in the field. I've instructed them to work closely with state and local officials, as well as with the private
sector, to ensure that we're helping, not hindering, recovery efforts. This recovery will take a long time. This
recovery will take years.
Our efforts are now focused on three priorities: Our first priority is to save lives. We're assisting local officials
in New Orleans in evacuating any remaining citizens from the affected area. I want to thank the state of Texas,
and particularly Harris County and the city of Houston and officials with the Houston Astrodome, for providing
shelter to those citizens who found refuge in the Super Dome in Louisiana. Buses are on the way to take
those people from New Orleans to Houston.
FEMA has deployed more than 50 disaster medical assistance teams from all across the country to help the
affected -- to help those in the affected areas. FEMA has deployed more than 25 urban search and rescue
teams with more than a thousand personnel to help save as many lives as possible. The United States
Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue missions. They're working alongside local officials, local
assets. The Coast Guard has rescued nearly 2,000 people to date.
The Department of Defense is deploying major assets to the region. These include the USS Bataan to
conduct search and rescue missions; eight swift water rescue teams; the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness
Group to help with disaster response equipment; and the hospital ship USNS Comfort to help provide
medical care.
The National Guard has nearly 11,000 Guardsmen on state active duty to assist governors and local officials
with security and disaster response efforts. FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers are working around the
clock with Louisiana officials to repair the breaches in the levees so we can stop the flooding in New Orleans.
Our second priority is to sustain lives by ensuring adequate food, water, shelter and medical supplies for
survivors and dedicated citizens -- dislocated citizens. FEMA is moving supplies and equipment into the
hardest hit areas. The Department of Transportation has provided more than 400 trucks to move 1,000
truckloads containing 5.4 million Meals Ready to Eat -- or MREs, 13.4 million liters of water, 10,400 tarps, 3.4
million pounds of ice, 144 generators, 20 containers of pre-positioned disaster supplies, 135,000 blankets
and 11,000 cots. And we're just starting.
There are more than 78,000 people now in shelters. HHS and CDC are working with local officials to identify
operating hospital facilities so we can help them, help the nurses and doctors provide necessary medical
care. They're distributing medical supplies, and they're executing a public health plan to control disease and
other health-related issues that might arise.Our third priority is executing a comprehensive recovery effort.
We're focusing on restoring power and lines of communication that have been knocked out during the storm.
We'll be repairing major roads and bridges and other essential means of transportation as quickly as
possible.There's a lot of work we're going to have to do. In my flyover, I saw a lot of destruction on major
infrastructure. Repairing the infrastructure, of course, is going to be a key priority.
The Department of Energy is approving loans from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to limit disruptions in
crude supplies for refineries. A lot of crude production has been shut down because of the storm. I instructed
Secretary Bodman to work with refiners, people who need crude oil, to alleviate any shortage through loans.
The Environmental Protection Agency has granted a nationwide waiver for fuel blends to make more gasoline
and diesel fuel available throughout the country. This will help take some pressure off of gas price. But our
citizens must understand this storm has disrupted the capacity to make gasoline and distribute gasoline.
We're also developing a comprehensive plan to immediately help displaced citizens. This will include
housing and education and health care and other essential needs. I've directed the folks in my Cabinet to
work with local folks, local officials, to develop a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the communities affected.
And there's going to be a lot of rebuilding done. I can't tell you how devastating the sights were.
I want to thank the communities in surrounding states that have welcomed their neighbors during an hour of
need. A lot of folks left the affected areas and found refuge with a relative or a friend, and I appreciate you
doing that. I also want to thank the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities,
and all other members of the armies of compassion. I think the folks in the affected areas are going to be
overwhelmed when they realize how many Americans want to help them. At this stage in the recovery efforts,
it's important for those who want to contribute, to contribute cash. You can contribute cash to a charity of your
choice, but make sure you designate that gift for hurricane relief. You can call 1-800-HELPNOW, or you can
get on the Red Cross web page, RedCross.org. The Red Cross needs our help. I urge our fellow citizens to
contribute.
The folks on the Gulf Coast are going to need the help of this country for a long time. This is going to be a
difficult road. The challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented. But there's no doubt in my mind
we're going to succeed. Right now the days seem awfully dark for those affected -- I understand that. But I'm
confident that, with time, you can get your life back in order, new communities will flourish, the great city of
New Orleans will be back on its feet, and America will be a stronger place for it.
The country stands with you. We'll do all in our power to help you.
May God bless you. Thank you.
END 5:20 P.M. EDT
are beyond repair. A lot of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been completely destroyed. Mobile is flooded. We
are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history.
And that's why I've called the Cabinet together. The people in the affected regions expect the federal
government to work with the state government and local government with an effective response. I have
directed Secretary of Homeland Security Mike Chertoff to chair a Cabinet-level task force to coordinate all our
assistance from Washington. FEMA Director Mike Brown is in charge of all federal response and recovery
efforts in the field. I've instructed them to work closely with state and local officials, as well as with the private
sector, to ensure that we're helping, not hindering, recovery efforts. This recovery will take a long time. This
recovery will take years.
Our efforts are now focused on three priorities: Our first priority is to save lives. We're assisting local officials
in New Orleans in evacuating any remaining citizens from the affected area. I want to thank the state of Texas,
and particularly Harris County and the city of Houston and officials with the Houston Astrodome, for providing
shelter to those citizens who found refuge in the Super Dome in Louisiana. Buses are on the way to take
those people from New Orleans to Houston.
FEMA has deployed more than 50 disaster medical assistance teams from all across the country to help the
affected -- to help those in the affected areas. FEMA has deployed more than 25 urban search and rescue
teams with more than a thousand personnel to help save as many lives as possible. The United States
Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue missions. They're working alongside local officials, local
assets. The Coast Guard has rescued nearly 2,000 people to date.
The Department of Defense is deploying major assets to the region. These include the USS Bataan to
conduct search and rescue missions; eight swift water rescue teams; the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness
Group to help with disaster response equipment; and the hospital ship USNS Comfort to help provide
medical care.
The National Guard has nearly 11,000 Guardsmen on state active duty to assist governors and local officials
with security and disaster response efforts. FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers are working around the
clock with Louisiana officials to repair the breaches in the levees so we can stop the flooding in New Orleans.
Our second priority is to sustain lives by ensuring adequate food, water, shelter and medical supplies for
survivors and dedicated citizens -- dislocated citizens. FEMA is moving supplies and equipment into the
hardest hit areas. The Department of Transportation has provided more than 400 trucks to move 1,000
truckloads containing 5.4 million Meals Ready to Eat -- or MREs, 13.4 million liters of water, 10,400 tarps, 3.4
million pounds of ice, 144 generators, 20 containers of pre-positioned disaster supplies, 135,000 blankets
and 11,000 cots. And we're just starting.
There are more than 78,000 people now in shelters. HHS and CDC are working with local officials to identify
operating hospital facilities so we can help them, help the nurses and doctors provide necessary medical
care. They're distributing medical supplies, and they're executing a public health plan to control disease and
other health-related issues that might arise.Our third priority is executing a comprehensive recovery effort.
We're focusing on restoring power and lines of communication that have been knocked out during the storm.
We'll be repairing major roads and bridges and other essential means of transportation as quickly as
possible.There's a lot of work we're going to have to do. In my flyover, I saw a lot of destruction on major
infrastructure. Repairing the infrastructure, of course, is going to be a key priority.
The Department of Energy is approving loans from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to limit disruptions in
crude supplies for refineries. A lot of crude production has been shut down because of the storm. I instructed
Secretary Bodman to work with refiners, people who need crude oil, to alleviate any shortage through loans.
The Environmental Protection Agency has granted a nationwide waiver for fuel blends to make more gasoline
and diesel fuel available throughout the country. This will help take some pressure off of gas price. But our
citizens must understand this storm has disrupted the capacity to make gasoline and distribute gasoline.
We're also developing a comprehensive plan to immediately help displaced citizens. This will include
housing and education and health care and other essential needs. I've directed the folks in my Cabinet to
work with local folks, local officials, to develop a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the communities affected.
And there's going to be a lot of rebuilding done. I can't tell you how devastating the sights were.
I want to thank the communities in surrounding states that have welcomed their neighbors during an hour of
need. A lot of folks left the affected areas and found refuge with a relative or a friend, and I appreciate you
doing that. I also want to thank the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities,
and all other members of the armies of compassion. I think the folks in the affected areas are going to be
overwhelmed when they realize how many Americans want to help them. At this stage in the recovery efforts,
it's important for those who want to contribute, to contribute cash. You can contribute cash to a charity of your
choice, but make sure you designate that gift for hurricane relief. You can call 1-800-HELPNOW, or you can
get on the Red Cross web page, RedCross.org. The Red Cross needs our help. I urge our fellow citizens to
contribute.
The folks on the Gulf Coast are going to need the help of this country for a long time. This is going to be a
difficult road. The challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented. But there's no doubt in my mind
we're going to succeed. Right now the days seem awfully dark for those affected -- I understand that. But I'm
confident that, with time, you can get your life back in order, new communities will flourish, the great city of
New Orleans will be back on its feet, and America will be a stronger place for it.
The country stands with you. We'll do all in our power to help you.
May God bless you. Thank you.
END 5:20 P.M. EDT
Related links:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/print/20050831-3.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050831-4.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/print/20050831-3.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050831-4.html
| On the Behalf of BSO_NA, I express our deep grief and sorrows over the devastations and losses caused by the Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. BSO-NA Stands by with the victims and their families and I ask all the BSO-NA members to please donate Cash to American Red Cross and help as much as you can to reduce the sufferings of the effected families. Thank you. Dr. Wahid Baloch, President, BSO-NA. |
