President Visits Displaced Families in Arizona
Remarks by the President to Displaced Families
Round Valley High School
Eagar, Arizona
10:48 A.M. MDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. It's nice to see you. I'm sorry we're
doing so under these circumstances. But I want you to know that a lot
of people in our country are pulling for you. They understand the
suffering that families are going through because of worry about your
most precious possession, your home. They understand that a lot of you
are living in tents when you'd rather be in your own bed. They cry for
you, and they hurt for you. And I'm here to say on behalf of the
American people, God bless you. (Applause.)
I want to thank Governor Hull for being -- she called me a couple
of days ago and she said, This is really bad. You've got to understand
how bad these fires are. We're kind of used to fires out west, but
this is the biggest of all big fires. And I appreciate her
leadership. I appreciate her concern.
See, my job and her job is to make sure that all resources are
coordinated and funded to help the people. That's what we're here to
do. And the Governor is committed to that, and as am I. And that's
why I brought my man, Joe Allbaugh. Where is he?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Right here.
THE PRESIDENT: He's the pretty one. (Laughter.) He runs what
they call FEMA, which is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its
job is to provide help. That's what its job is to do, to provide help
during emergency. And this is an emergency.
Today, I signed a declaration declaring this an emergency, which
then provides for federal help -- which means money to fight the
fires. It means temporary housing money and long-term housing money.
It means help for small business owners; I understand there's a lot of
small business owners who are worried about your business, and I don't
blame you. I'd be worried, too. So it provides help.
It helps provide counseling services, and a lot of folks here, I
hope if you need counseling, you ask for it. A lot of people we want
to help. So, this is the federal government's way of committing the
resources allowed under the law, the full extent of the resources under
the law.
I appreciate Congressman J.D. Hayworth for working this issue
hard. I appreciate you being here, J.D. Thanks for coming.
(Applause.)
We got people down here from the Interior Department. A fellow
named Stephen Griles is the number two man in the Interior Department.
I want to thank Steve for being on site here, for spending a lot of
time in this area -- again, to make sure that whatever we can do to
help, we really, we'd like to try to do so.
I want to thank the Red Cross. I appreciate the good --
(applause) -- I appreciate, I want to thank Chad Ettmueller, who's
the -- I guess the man in charge of the Red Cross here. He just gave
me a briefing on the number of meals being served -- over 9,000 --
the number of people being housed.
You know, one of the great things about this country is that
there's a lot of loving people here in this country. I always say --
(applause). And not only is the Red Cross helping, but the Salvation
Army is as well. (Applause.)
See, here's what I tell them. What the enemy didn't understand is
when they attacked America, they didn't understand how kind and decent
this country is. (Applause.) And so I'm here to say thanks on behalf
of the volunteers, the people who are doing their best to spread
compassion to people who need compassion, to spread love to people who
need love, to spread guidance to people who seek guidance.
I also want to thank the Forest Service, Dale Bosworth. Listen,
we've got a lot of work to do to make sure the Forest Service has got
wise forest policy -- (applause) -- to make sure to maintain the
forests so that they're healthy and viable, and not become
kindling-boxes.
I want to thank all the firefighters, the people who are --
(applause). I had the honor of shaking some hands today of some of
those who wear the uniform of the firefighter. You know, we focus on
the houses which have been lost, and there have been too many houses
lost. One house lost is too many houses lost. One house.
(Applause.) But there's been thousands of homes saved, too, and that's
important. (Applause.)
People that are just working their hearts out on behalf of their
fellow citizens, you can look in their eyes and see the exhaustion.
But I can assure you, having talked to them, and I know you have as
well, they're not quitting until this thing is whipped. And I hope
that makes you feel somewhat better, to know there's a lot of people
out there working their heart out on your behalf.
I want to thank the mayors who are here, Kelly, Mayor Kelly, Mayor
Handorf, and Mayor Kay Dyson of Show Low and Pinetop and
Springerville. You see, one of the other things that's important is
there's a lot of local folks who are doing everything they can to help
as well. (Applause.)
I want to thank Dallas Massey, who's the chairman of the White
Mountain Apache tribe. He came by to say hello today. Let me make
this clear to you: we're all in this together. (Applause.) It is a
-- these fires wreak havoc on everybody who stands in the way. They
don't pick and choose. And I hope, as we stay united to make sure that
we do the best job we can in fighting these fires, that people stay
united in doing this. It's an important moment, it's an important time
for people to stay bound up in their compassion and in their desire to
fight off this devastating disaster that's befallen you all.
And so it's been my honor to come. I look forward to shaking as
many hands as I can. This is a -- I know it's a tough moment in a
lot of people's lives, there's just no doubt in my mind. But just like
this war we're under, I believe out of evil can come some great good.
It's hard to tell it right now. (Applause.)
It's hard to tell it. I know it's hard to tell it. It's easy for
me; you say, yes, sure, he flies down in Air Force One and comes here
and says that. It's easy for him to say it. But that's what I
believe. Because I do believe there is a gracious and almighty God
that's looking out after the people who've been affected. (Applause.)
So hang in there. Hang in there, you brave and great people.
Thanks for giving me a chance to come by and say hello. May God bless
you, and may God bless your families. Thank you. (Applause.)