Bush also noted that Coast Guard cutters, aircraft, and helicopters are in place, “ready to rescue, evacuate, and relocate civilians trapped by the storm.”
Recovery efforts for Hurricane Katrina were also addressed by Bush over the radio, with the President mentioning the federal government, state and local leaders, and the private sector as ones with a “vital role” to “rebuild lives and communities.”
“The past three weeks have tested our nation and revealed the strength and resilience of our people,” said Bush. “Americans have the determination and the will to overcome any challenge from man or nature. The courageous spirit of America will carry us through any storm, and the compassionate soul of our nation will help us rebuild.”
With needs continuing to rise from the aftermath of Katrina and Rita, volunteer organisations and personnel across the nation are spreading their resources thin to aid those who need care.
The American Red Cross has projected at least a US$2 billion tab to cover the response to Hurricane Katrina, and untold additional expenses for Hurricane Rita. So far the organisation has raised nearly US$854 million, and already spent or committed US$700 million for Katrina relief.
“We have a long way to go in our fundraising to meet the needs of people from Katrina, let alone what we need to do for the people of Rita," Joe Becker, senior vice president of preparedness and response with the Red Cross, told reporters in Washington. "As fast as the money is coming in, we are spending it."
In preparation for Rita, the Red Cross pre-positioned supplies around Dallas and San Antionio including 145,000 heater meals, 20,000 cots, 34 kitchens and food for kitchens. The organisation is now working on opening up shelters for victims of Hurricane Rita.
“In Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi our role at this point for Rita is to pen evacuation shelters,” Becker said. “They are open and filling as we speak. We’re opening shelters as needed and we will open as far away from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi as needed.”
The Salvation Army – the second largest disaster relief organisation in North America, behind the American Red Cross – was also on site for Rita yesterday, responding to stranded motorists, sheltered evacuees and soldiers ready to deploy after the storm moved past them.
The Christian charity organisation served nearly 3,000 meals to the National Guard and emergency personnel in Houston and San Antonio, and handed out 160,000 bottles of water to motorists stuck in traffic along I-10 and I-45 as they evacuated.
“Before the storms come, during the storms and well after the storms have gone, The Salvation Army is prepared and ready to respond with meals, water, shelter and personnel trained to help people and communities,” said Major George Hood, the Salvation Army’s national community relations and development secretary, in a statement released yesterday.
Beginning Thursday afternoon, the Salvation Army opened two shelters in the north Houston area where more than 450 mostly low-income residents who were unable to evacuate the city found refuge before the storm made landfall. The organisation is also providing thousands of hot meals to evacuees in shelters in Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas, Lufkin and Austin.
The Salvation Army has resources prepared to serve up to 560,000 hot meals per day at designated shelters and from vehicles dispatched to the hardest hit locations.
In their response to Katrina, the organisation has already served more than 4 million meals and assisted nearly 500,000 people throughout the three states directly impacted – Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi – and neighbouring states, including Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
The Army has also helped to locate 8,400 loved ones separated by Katrina through the Salvation Army team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN).
Justin Camacho
Christian Today Correspondent
