print-only banner
The White House Skip Main Navigation
  
 Home > News & Policies > Policies in Focus > Hurricane Recovery

Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane Preparedness, 2008
President George W. Bush meets with locals officials at the U.S. Coast Guard facility at Ellington Field in Houston Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 before taking an aerial tour of Texas areas damaged in last weekend's hurricane. Said the President afterward, "My first observation is that the state government and local folks are working very closely and working hard and have put a good response together. The evacuation plan was excellent in its planning and in execution. The rescue plan was very bold, and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who were on the front line pulling people out of harm's way, like the Coast Guard people behind us here."
President George W. Bush meets with locals officials at the U.S. Coast Guard facility at Ellington Field in Houston Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 before taking an aerial tour of Texas areas damaged in last weekend's hurricane. Said the President afterward, "My first observation is that the state government and local folks are working very closely and working hard and have put a good response together. The evacuation plan was excellent in its planning and in execution. The rescue plan was very bold, and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who were on the front line pulling people out of harm's way, like the Coast Guard people behind us here."
President George W. Bush, joined by Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Paulison, left, and Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson, right, participates in a briefing on preparations for Hurricane Gustav, at the FEMA National Response Center, Sunday, August 31, 2008 in Washington, DC. President George W. Bush, joined by Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Paulison, right, and Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson, left, participates in a briefing on preparations for Hurricane Gustav, at the FEMA National Response Center, Sunday, August 31, 2008 in Washington, DC.
President George W. Bush makes a statement to the press after participating in a briefing on preparations for Hurricane Gustav, at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), Operations Center, Sunday, August 31, 2008 in Washington, DC. President George W. Bush is joined by FEMA Administrator Secretary David Paulison, left, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Texas National Guard Lt. General Charles Rodriguez, right, during a briefing Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 at the Texas Emergency Operations Center in Austin, Texas, for the most recent update on Hurricane Gustav.
President George W. Bush greets and thanks personnel at the Emergency Operations Center in Austin, Texas, Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, following a briefing update on Hurricane Gustav. President George W. Bush is shown a computer tracking the latest position of Hurricane Gustav during a briefing Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 at the Texas Emergency Operations Center in Austin, Texas.
President George W. Bush attends a briefing inside an aircraft hanger Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for the latest update on reponse preparation for Hurricane Gustav. President George W. Bush meets military personnel Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 at the Alamo Regional Command Reception Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, after attending a briefing on the response preparation for Hurricane Gustav.
President George W. Bush stands with a group of Red Cross volunteers as he talks with reporters Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 at the Alamo Regional Command Reception Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where the President participated in a briefing on the response preparation for Hurricane Gustav. Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and FEMA Administrator David Paulison are seen at right. President George W. Bush addresses the media Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, before updating members of the Cabinet on Hurricane Gustav. In urging continued coordination with state and local officials, the President said, "We recognize that the pre-storm efforts were important and so are the follow-up efforts... "
President George W. Bush speaks with federal, state and local officials at the Louisiana Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, where he was briefed in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. Gustav was a Category 2 storm when it made landfall Monday, in Cocodrie, La. At the request of Gov. Bobby Jindal, center, President Bush Tuesday issued a Major Disaster Declaration for 34 of the state's parishes. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden listens at right. President George W. Bush is greeted by Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden after arriving in Louisiana Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. The President met with federal, state and local officials at the Louisiana State Emergency Operations Center for a briefing in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.
President George W. Bush greets military personnel who assisted with Hurricane Gustav emergency response during his briefing Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at the Louisiana State Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge. Acknowledging the response and coordination efforts, the President said, "State government, the local government and the federal government were able to work effectively together." President George W. Bush stands with workers inside the Louisiana State Emergency Operations Center Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Baton Rouge. Speaking to all those who came to the aide in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, the President said, "I want to thank all the volunteers and the faith-based community that always rises up in a challenge like this. They listen to that universal call to love a neighbor... And that's happening here in Louisiana again."
President George W. Bush is briefed on Hurricane Ike Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, in the Situation Room of the White House. The massive storm is predicted to make landfall within the next 48 hours. President George W. Bush speaks to the media upon his arrival Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Speaking about the impending landfall of Hurricane Ike, the President said, "I want to thank the citizens of Oklahoma for getting ready to help a Texan in need. I urge my fellow Texans to listen carefully to what the authorities are saying in Galveston County or parts of Harris County, up and down the coast. The federal government will not only help with the pre-storm strategy, but once this storm passes we'll be working with state and local authorities to help people recover as quickly as possible."
President George W. Bush is joined by Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, (third from left), FEMA Administrator David Paulison, (second from right), and Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Paul Schneider, right, as he speaks to the press from the Roosevelt Room following a briefing on the latest developments concerning Hurricane Ike, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. President George W. Bush is joined by Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, left, and FEMA Administrator David Paulison, right, as he speaks to the press from the Roosevelt Room following a briefing on the latest developments concerning Hurricane Ike, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008.
With Secretary Michael Chertoff of the Department of Homeland Security beside him, President George W. Bush speaks to the media in the Roosevelt Room Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, during an update on Hurricane Ike response and relief efforts. President George W. Bush meets with locals officials at the U.S. Coast Guard facility at Ellington Field in Houston Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 before taking an aerial tour of Texas areas damaged in last weekend's hurricane. Said the President afterward, "My first observation is that the state government and local folks are working very closely and working hard and have put a good response together. The evacuation plan was excellent in its planning and in execution. The rescue plan was very bold, and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who were on the front line pulling people out of harm's way, like the Coast Guard people behind us here."
President George W. Bush shakes hands of military personnel outside the emergency operations center at the U.S. Coast Guard Hangar at Ellington Field in Houston Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, during his visit to Texas to see firsthand the destruction left in the wake of last weekend's Hurricane Ike. Aboard Marine One, President George W. Bush flies over the devastation left along the Texas coast in the wake of Hurricane Ike. President Bush and officials toured the the Houston-Galveston areas Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, for a first-hand look and to participate in briefings from federal, state and local officals on the response to the storm.
President George W. Bush speaks with state and local officials during a briefing Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, at the Galveston emergency operations center. The President spent the day in Texas visiting the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ike, which made landfall September 13 near Galveston as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. President George W. Bush walks hand-in-hand with Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, during a visit to the Texas area hard hit by last weekend's Hurricane Ike. Walking with them from left are: Charlie Kelly, Emergency Manager Coordinator for the City of Galveston; President Bush, Mayor Thomas, Steve LeBlanc, Galveston City Manager and Texas Congressman Nick Lampson.

backnext