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Bush prepares Rita response

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 September 2005, 17:37 CDT

By Adam Entous

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Still under a cloud over the slow response to Hurricane Katrina, President George W. Bush and top aides rushed on Wednesday to assure the public they would be able to avoid a repeat of the problems when Hurricane Rita strikes.

Bush issued pre-emptive emergency declarations for Texas and Louisiana, while Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and acting FEMA Director David Paulison fanned out to tout improved federal preparations and coordination with state and local officials.

Bush said he had spoken to the governors of Texas and Louisiana about preparations for Rita, which grew into a monster Category 5 storm and took aim at Texas, Bush's home state.

Chertoff said there was a push to evacuate people in affected areas as early as possible. Paulison said federal and state officials were in almost hourly contact and that one of the important things the Federal Emergency Management Agency was doing this time was working with the Pentagon ahead of time to preposition supplies.

"We're going to make sure this time, to make sure we have all those resources available," Paulison said.

White House officials were already laying the groundwork for Bush to visit or get close to the disaster zone soon after Rita passes, leaving his schedule open for Saturday and Sunday.

Bush came under fire for waiting several days before visiting New Orleans after Katrina devastated that city. He has since returned five times to the disaster zone.

Administration officials are counting on a more aggressive, hands-on approach to Hurricane Rita to help counter criticism of their slow and confused response to Katrina. Since that storm hit on August 29, Bush has seen his overall approval ratings drop to new lows.

The effort could pay off politically for Bush, said Bruce Buchanan, a political scientist at the University of Texas. "It does supplant the memories (of Katrina), assuming he does well," Buchanan said.

"Federal, state and local governments are coordinating their efforts to get ready," Bush said. "We hope and pray that Hurricane Rita will not be a devastating storm, but we've got to be ready for the worst."

His emergency declarations for Texas and Louisiana authorized the Homeland Security Department and FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

For a second day running, Paulison held a media briefing to read out a list of actions the agency was taking to prepare for Rita.

The White House said truckloads of water, ice and food were being prepositioned in Texas. Officials said the Coast Guard had rescue helicopters at the ready in Houston and Corpus Christi.

"Coordination at all levels needs to be seamless, or as seamless as possible, and that's what we're working to do," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

One of the horrors in the aftermath of Katrina was the discovery of nursing home residents who had been left behind and drowned.

Ahead of Rita, Chertoff said, authorities were "making provisions for people in nursing homes or hospitals to get them out so they are out of harm's way and don't need to be rescued."

(Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Deborah Charles)

Source: REUTERS

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