Coming Soon: Future Disasters

President Bush (8/15/05):

Federal funds will cover the great majority of
the costs of repairing public infrastructure in the
disaster zone -- from roads and bridges to
schools and water systems. Our goal is to get the
work done quickly. And taxpayers expect this
work to be done honestly and wisely, so we will
have a team of inspectors general reviewing all
expenditures.

In the rebuilding process, there will be many
important decisions and many details to resolve,
yet we are moving forward according to some
clear principles. The Federal government will be
fully engaged in the mission, but Gov. Barbour,
Gov. Blanco, Mayor Nagin, and other state and
local leaders will have the primary role in
planning for their own future.

Reuters (2/6/06):

Shortcomings in aid from the U.S. government are
making New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin look to
other nations for help in rebuilding his hurricane-
damaged city.

Nagin, who has hosted a steady stream of foreign
dignitaries since Hurricane Katrina hit in late
August, says he may seek international
assistance because U.S. aid has not been
sufficient to get the city back on its feet.

Associated Press (2/6/06):

The Bush administration offered no new aid for
Hurricane Katrina victims in the budget it
released Monday, instead putting modest amounts
of money into preparedness and response plans
for future disasters.