The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 5, 2005

President Thanks Workers at the Emergency Operations Center
Emergency Operations Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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President's Remarks
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     Fact sheet In Focus: Hurricane Relief

1:05 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, thanks for doing your duty. You face one of the greatest challenges our country has ever faced. As a result of your compassion, your hard work, your dedication, a lot of people's lives were saved, and I want to thank you for that. I hope that makes you feel good to know that you helped save life.


President George W. Bush and U.S. Army Lt General Russel Honore walk to the Emergency Operations Center, Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, after the President's arrival in Baton Rouge, La.  White House photo by Eric Draper We've got a lot of work to do. I told the Governor and the senators and the Congress people, I said, you know, if it's not right, we're going to fix it, and if it is right, we're going to keep doing it. And this is just the beginning of a huge effort to -- and we're going to continue to save life. But you've got to know that lives are still being saved as we speak because thousands of people are taking in these displaced souls in their homes and churches and synagogues and mosques and providing love and compassion and food.

This is -- this is one of these disasters that will test our soul and test our spirit. And -- but we're going to show the world, once again, that not only we will survive, but that we will be stronger and better for it when it's all said and done, that amidst this darkness, there is light. And I want to thank you all for providing light, immediate light to people who needed help. You make your state and your local governments and your country proud.

God bless you and your families. May God bless the victims, and may God continue to bless our country. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 1:07 P.M. CDT
President George W. Bush receives a briefing from U.S. Army Lt. General Russel Honore, left, inside the Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge, La., Monday Sept. 5, 2005, as Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, second from right, and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, right, join the meeting. White House photo by Eric Draper


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