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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 3, 2007
President Bush Tours Storm Devastation at Enterprise High School in Alabama
Enterprise High School
Enterprise, Alabama
9:24 A.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: The heart of a community like Enterprise, Alabama,
is the school. And today I have walked through devastation that's hard
to describe. Our thoughts, of course, go out to the students who
perished. We thank God for the hundreds who lived. I want the folks of
Enterprise to know that to the extent the government can, our federal
government can, in working with the state, we'll help rebuild the school
system, this high school. We can never replace lives, and we can't heal
hearts, except through prayer. And I know -- I want the students to
know, and the families to know that there's a lot of people praying for
them.
I met with the president of the Student Body, who recognizes that
the end of her senior year is going to be difficult. But as a student
leader, she will have the opportunity to help people rebuild, and that
she will learn that out of the devastation -- and the classmates will
learn, that out of the devastation can come hope and a better tomorrow.
And so we ask for the blessings on the students and their families.
We ask for the blessings on the principal and the administrator. We
thank this good community for rallying strongly by the side of those who
have been affected. And I thank the people of Enterprise for the warm
welcome I have received here.
The people of America have got to know that the citizens here, even
though affected by devastation, have shown great courage and compassion
for their citizens in need. And it's really part of the strength of the
United States to know that they're such decent folks.
God bless everybody. Thank you all.
Q How did it look from the air, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: It looks as bad from the air as it looks from the
ground. And you can see right here the effects of the storm. But the
biggest effect of the storm is the shattered lives. We can rebuild
buildings, and the fundamental question is, will the spirit stay strong
in Enterprise, Alabama. I predict that it not only will stay strong, it
will be strengthened. That's my prediction. And it's easy to tell when
you talk to the people, whether it's young or old, this town refuses to
be devastated. This town is a town full of people that will not -- will
not succumb to the effects of the storm. The Mayor is strong; the
Principal of the school is strong; the Lieutenant; and the children, the
high school seniors.
And so it's a -- these are very tough times for the people here.
And there are going to be tough times for the people in Georgia that
were affected. And I just hope they know that a lot of people are
praying for them, that a lot of strangers that they'll never have met
care for them, and that out of this rubble will emerge a better
tomorrow, because that's the commitment that I hear here in Enterprise.
And the role of the government is going to help, to the extent that we
can.
Thank you all.
END 9:27 A.M. CST
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