Bush speaks with reporters; tours Charley wake 1.5 days after storm.

[expatriot]

On the morning of August 15, the President tours damage from Hurricane Charley a mere day and a half after the hurricane came ashore in Florida in the mid to late afternoon of August 13th. Here is a piece pulled from the White House website as to an exchange between the press and the President

Bush answers some questions from the Press

Q There was some consternation after Andrew that the federal aid didn't arrive soon enough. Can you promise that there will be a more expeditious response this time?

THE PRESIDENT: It's happening now --

Q Sir --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold up for a second. We're moving a lot of aid very quickly and, again, you can ask the governor whether or not he's satisfied with how fast the aid is moving. All I can tell you is that FEMA was on the ground yesterday morning and there's a lot of supplies surging this way.

President Yes, ma'am.

Q Have you gotten an updated tally of the cost of the damage --

THE PRESIDENT: Not yet. Jeb estimated billions. We'll see.

Q Mr. President, some people are going to say that there's a political component to your rapid visit to Florida.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, and if I didn't come they would have said, he should have been here more rapidly.

Q Yes. (Laughter.)

Q What about what happened in '92, with Hurricane Andrew? That was obviously in August of a presidential --

THE PRESIDENT: That was then, this is now. And the government is set up to respond very quickly and we are.

Q Was there a lesson learned back then, though?

THE PRESIDENT: The lesson is, respond quickly. And we are responding quickly. And we're surging equipment. And the coordination between the federal government and the state government is excellent. And the Homeland Security Department is doing its job. FEMA Director Brown is doing an excellent job. You can talk to the governor, he can give you a sense from the state perspective. But from the federal perspective, I was notified that they're going to move as quickly as possible, and they are. A lot of stuff is coming.
END 10:50 A.M. EDT

More research threads of mine:
Comparing White House reports on FEMA response to Francis & Katrina
Major Disasters & the National Response Plan: The buck stops at Bush.
USNS Comfort: Slow boat to New Orleans
Rightwing Newsmax and congressman blame relief effort's failure on gangs.

[madmadmad]

1. 1.5 days for florida, 5 days for NO. "what didn't go right?"

[madmadmad]

2. i forwarded this info on to several news outlets, and nancy pelosi.

so hypocritical.

[expatriot]

4. yes, it is amazing how much you can find on their own websites. nt

[slater71]

3. He was running for relection, thats why he was there in a second.