(Aug 26,2006)
Good morning.
Earlier this week, I had coffee with Rockey Vaccarella in the White House.
Rockey is from Saint Bernard Parish in Louisiana, and he and his family lost
everything they owned to Hurricane Katrina. Rockey drove to Washington to thank
the federal government for its efforts to help people like him. And he brought a
trailer along to help remind us that many good people along our Gulf Coast are
still living in difficult conditions, and that the hard work of rebuilding has
only just begun.
This Tuesday marks the first anniversary of Katrina -- one of the deadliest
and most costly natural disasters in American history. In Mississippi, the storm
wiped out virtually everything along an 80-mile stretch of the coast, flattening
homes and destroying entire communities. In Louisiana, flooding left 80 percent
of the city of New Orleans underwater. The human costs were even more terrible.
More than a thousand people died, countless families lost their homes and
livelihoods, and tens of thousands of men, women, and children were forced to
flee the region and leave behind everything they knew.
During the storm and in the days that followed, Americans responded with
heroism and compassion. Coast Guard and other personnel rescued people stranded
in flooded neighborhoods and brought them to high ground. Doctors and nurses
stayed behind to care for their patients, and some even went without food so
their patients could eat. Many of the first-responders risking their lives to
help others were victims themselves -- wounded healers, with a sense of duty
greater than their own suffering. And across our great land, the armies of
compassion rallied to bring food and water and hope to fellow citizens who had
lost everything. In these and countless other selfless acts, we saw the spirit
of America at its best.
Unfortunately, Katrina also revealed that federal, state, and local
governments were unprepared to respond to such an extraordinary disaster. And
the floodwaters exposed a deep-seated poverty that has cut people off from the
opportunities of our country. So last year I made a simple pledge: The federal
government would learn the lessons of Katrina, we would do what it takes, and we
would stay as long as it takes, to help our brothers and sisters build a new
Gulf Coast where every citizen feels part of the great promise of America.
That was the same pledge I repeated to Rockey during his visit to the White
House. This pledge meant stronger levees and rebuilt homes and new
infrastructure. It also means safe streets and neighborhoods filled with locally
owned businesses, and more opportunities for everyone.
Next week, Laura and I will return to Mississippi and New Orleans to meet
with local citizens and officials, and review the progress we have made. The
federal government has conducted a thorough review of its response to natural
disasters, and we're making reforms that will improve our response to future
emergencies. With help from Congress, we have committed $110 billion to the
recovery effort, and we are playing a vital role in helping people clear debris,
repair and rebuild their homes, reopen their businesses and schools, and put
their lives back together.
The federal government will continue to do its part -- yet a re-born Gulf
Coast must reflect the needs, the vision, and the aspirations of the people of
Mississippi and Louisiana. And their state and local officials have a
responsibility to help set priorities and make tough decisions, so people can
plan their futures with confidence.
One year after the storms, the Gulf Coast continues down the long road to
recovery. In Mississippi and Louisiana, we can see many encouraging signs of
recovery and renewal, and many reminders that hard work still lies ahead. This
work will require the sustained commitment of our government, the generosity and
compassion of the American people, and the talent and vision of people
determined to restore their homes, neighborhoods, and cities. We will stay until
the job is done, and by working together, we will help our fellow citizens along
the Gulf Coast write a new future of hope, justice, and opportunity for all.
Thank you for listening.
（來源：http://www.weeklyradioaddress.com/
英語點津姍姍編輯）
