Gulf Coast Rebuilding

The President and Mrs. Bush are committed to helping Gulf Coast communities rebuild their lives in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Mrs. Bush has made more than 20 visits to the Gulf Coast region to witness the progress being made, bring attention to the ongoing need for help, and thank those who are working hard to help people recover and return to normal lives. For more information about federal efforts to aid Gulf Coast recovery and rebuilding, please visit the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding.

For more information, please click here.

Mrs. Bush is helping drive school recovery efforts for the 1,121 schools damaged or destroyed by hurricanes. The destruction of these schools displaced more than 372,000 students. Mrs. Bush wants every child to regain a sense of normal life. Returning to school is an important part of that process because schools provide a safe and nurturing environment. Through the Hurricane Help for Schools initiative, Mrs. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings have encouraged people all over America to help schools rebuild and acquire new supplies. She has also championed efforts to help rebuild Gulf Coast school library collections lost because of the hurricanes. By bringing books back to school libraries, rebuilt school libraries help bring children back to their schools, and rebuilt schools help bring families back to the Gulf Coast.

For more about Hurricane Help for Schools, click here.

Mrs. Bush continues to encourage Americans to volunteer their time to invest in the future of the Crescent City and entire region. In response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, the Gulf Coast received an outpouring of compassion and generosity from citizens across the United States. Families and communities throughout the region have been helped by volunteer service. Young people in high school and college continue to participate in volunteer projects during summer vacations. Faith-based and community-based organizations are building houses and providing basic reading skills, helping to build a strong foundation for the future of the region. Mrs. Bush applauds these efforts and urges all Americans to volunteer in this important work.

For more information about USA Freedom Corps or to find volunteer opportunities, click here.