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Bush Declares State of Emergency in California
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ShareOctober 23, 2007 10:20 AM
ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman and Jennifer Duck Report: In scheduled remarks at the National Defense University, President Bush expressed his concern over 'the devastation of the wildfires" in California that have burned more than 700 homes and set nearly 250,000 acres ablaze.
"All of us are concerned for the families who have lost their homes and the many families who have been evacuated from their homes," the president said.
"We send our prayers and thoughts," Bush said, "And we send the federal government as well."
Yesterday at 4pm, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called President Bush; the President told Schwarzenegger to call him with anything California needs.
Schwarzenegger called back 45 minutes later to ask for emergency funding.
In the early hours of morning, the president declared a State of Emergency in California and dispatched Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Admin. David Paulison to California "to listen and develop an inventory and to give the help we can provide."
At this point, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino says "it's very premature to say" whether or not the President will not go to the region. Perino says "they have an emergency situation and the last thing California needs right now is a trip by the President to take away assets we need to fight the fires."
When asked if there were lessons learned from Katrina on the response to the fires, Perino said, "Integration, additional communication, and cooperation amongst the state and local governments has improved since Katrina…I believe that that early communication is helping."
October 23, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (13)
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As if these poor people don't have enough trouble already. I can see it now. Ice going to maine.
Posted by: trillion1 | Oct 23, 2007 11:31:55 AM
no comparison to Katrina. this is California!
Posted by: gaby | Oct 23, 2007 11:33:41 AM
In other words, Bush is sending Haliburton and Blackwater in to take care of the situation. Blackwater is hoping to pick up that prime land they want a little cheaper at the fire sale.
Posted by: Thorpe | Oct 23, 2007 11:43:40 AM
Please! Don't these people have enough problems! Keep FEMA in DC, where they can't do any more damage!
Posted by: Dena | Oct 23, 2007 11:46:51 AM
Run!!! Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h...NO!!! Not FEMA again!!! Let's hope they don't do a 'heck of a job'!
Posted by: tokalion | Oct 23, 2007 12:07:43 PM
Oh yeah, my sentiments exactly...RUN FORREST RUN! Oh no not FEMA again!
Posted by: gaby | Oct 23, 2007 12:10:35 PM
Let's see......mostly white, middle to upper-class. Look at the aid roll in to California almost immediately. Remember Katrina? God bless America!
Posted by: Rob MacKay | Oct 23, 2007 12:47:41 PM
Let's remember to keep our comments political and anti-Bush, and not do anything or say anything that would benefit the people of California. This is a great opportunity for us to grandstand, and to use other people's misfortunes as political clubs to beat Bush over the head with. He deserves it, because we all do so much to feed hungry children and to help the poor.
Posted by: T.W. | Oct 23, 2007 1:33:53 PM
Just in response to Mr. MacKay, I understand the point you are trying to make. But I would also like to point out to Mr. MacKay that Southern California is not majority white; and I would venture to say that with prices the way they are in california, I don't know if I would say most people are upper-class. You are watching too much about the Malibu fire. If you paid attention to the other areas being affected you would realize that the aid is going to your regular everyday people who desperately need it.
Posted by: J. Ruiz | Oct 23, 2007 5:28:09 PM
Whistles and cheers for Mr. MacKay! I agree. By the way it was gaby who was talking about "white" and "upper-class" T.W. Mr. MacKay was being facetious about what gaby said.
Posted by: Agnes | Oct 23, 2007 7:14:43 PM
My mistake I meant Way to go T.W.! Sorry. I was reading as if the names were above the comment. And Mr. MacKay appears to be uninformed as you said J. Ruiz...as does gaby. I am so tired of people bypassing the tragedy to jump on their anti-Bush soapboxes. Let's address the California fires NOT Bush. My apologies again for the misunderstanding.
Posted by: Agnes | Oct 23, 2007 7:59:20 PM
Tonight, I was watching the broadcast about the California Fires with Charlie Gibson. During the broadcast there was an analogy about Qualcomm and the Houston Astrodome on how two tragedies were handled. The analogy was TOTALLY offbase. First of all, Qualcomm is dealing with it's own citys residents. Houston dealt with a neighboring State's residents. Houston was got off guard and was being hospitable, especially when other states would not take the victims in. There is a different social-economic status with the victims of the fires and the hurricane. It was interesting to watch the victims housed at Qualcomm getting served coffee from Starbucks when the victims of Katrina that were housed in Houston were dehydrated, hurt, with severe medical problems, lost loved ones, and were at a complete loss of what to do. It took a lot of nerve to knock Houston and to even compare the two incidents and towns. ABC should be ashamed of themselves!
Posted by: Johnna Johnston | Oct 23, 2007 10:37:33 PM
Yes, TW.
And, if you haven't heard him yet, check out OC's version of Ray Nagin: Asseblyman Todd Spitzer.
'Chocolate City' is decanting into 'California Whine'
Posted by: Roger Medanich | Oct 24, 2007 3:07:34 AM
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