Biden to GA Flood Victims: We Don’t Want Another Katrina-like Government Response
EmailABC News’ Karen Travers and Jordyn Phelps report:
Vice President Biden surveyed flood damage in the Atlanta area this morning and promised an effective and timely government response, in contrast to the Bush Administration’s handling of Hurricane Katrina.
“This is not going to happen overnight. It is not going to happen tomorrow, but it is going to happen,” Biden said.
Biden recounted a conversation he had with a woman who lost her home to the floods.
The vice president said the woman asked what he could do for her and she noted, “I know this isn't Katrina.”
Biden disagreed and said that for those who lost their homes in the floods, “it is Katrina.”
“For someone who is in a situation the people here in this shelter are in, it is Katrina,” he said. “It is not Katrina in its scope by any stretch of the imagination, but the impact on their lives, on your lives, we understand it is Katrina.”
While Biden acknowledged that the situation parallels Katrina in many ways, he pledged that the federal government will provide a strengthened response to this situation.
“Look, we don’t want anything like the past happening again,” Biden said. “This is hands on stuff, but it’s going to take time. We’re going to get other federal agencies in now. We’re are going to get HUD in and others who are going to be able to take care of hopefully your real needs.”
The floods have killed 9 people in Georgia. Eight counties have been declared federal disaster areas and will qualify for federal funding.
The vice president took an aerial tour of the flood damage in a helicopter with FEMA Director Craig Fugate. They were joined in a second helicopter by Georgia Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, Rep. David Scott and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Biden stopped by a shelter set up the Cobb County Civic Center to meet with people whose homes were damaged and destroyed in the flooding. The shelter is housing 277 flood victims who will be able to stay there as long as necessary.
Biden said he understood their grief and uncertainty, from his own experience of losing his wife and young daughter in a car accident. He later talked about how his house was hit by lightning.
“Folks, we understand. We have a sense of what you're going through,” he said. “We know we can't make everything right. But we know we're going to do everything we can to make it all right.”
-Karen Travers and Jordyn Phelps
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Sorry Joe but I almost willing to bet a lot of the people in Ga. Will help themselves out.
Posted by: 'Un-Amercian' | September 25, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Un as a Georgia resident who thakfully lies on a mountain there fore did not have flood damages I can assure you we Georgian will do what we can for ourselves but we/they will also need the govt help and hopefully it will come much quicker that FEMA did in Katrina.
Posted by: jenny | September 25, 2009, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
Rather than badmouthing the previous admin for a response that could only be fairly criticized as less than superhuman to the largest natural disaster in American history, in the face of complete collapse by Democratic state and local officials, perhaps Biden could simply promise to improve over his own administration’s performance in January when he enjoyed Kobe beef at a Super Bowl party while Kentuckians froze to death.
Posted by: bgates | September 25, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Still living in the past Joe? While the floods were pretty awful they cannot be compared to Katrina and the damage those people faced. By the way they are still rebuilding there and to my knowledge this administration hasn’t increased the activity level there. As a child I blamed my sister for an act I had committed so blaming a past President is acceptable…if you are a child. Perhaps though it would be worth a peek in the mirror and ask yourself why an entire group of people, top to bottom, were so dependent on the federal government for getting out of there in the first place.
Posted by: david | September 25, 2009, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
It is unclear if Biden is truly taking a partisan shot at prior administration or if Jake is sensationalizing/implying partisan shot on Biden’s part.
Speaking as a GA resident, flooding is pretty bad in some areas, but it is nothing close to same scale of Katrina. All rivers/creeks have crested and clean-up has begun. With the exception of two counties schools are back in session (with a few notable exceptions). One death caused by a TN man who bet some friends he could get across swollen creek (he was swept away).
Biden doesn’t have anything else to do? Rather than riding helicopters around in GA how about figuring out where “stimulus” money has gone. How about moving forward on your “middle class taskforce”? How about getting your boss moving on a strategy for Afghanistan?
Posted by: tjp612 | September 25, 2009, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Joe should have stayed in DC. Did he have to use GA residents for a photo op? Seriously, we’re doing just fine clinging to our Bibles and guns.
Posted by: stdntDrvr | September 25, 2009, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
===“This is hands on stuff, but it’s going to take time===
Well how much time? The same amount of time it took the federal government during Katrina?
Posted by: Axey | September 25, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
This is desperate and childish attempt to distract attention from Obama’s collapsing popularity, inability to push legislation through a Congress packed with his partisans, and complete loss of respect with world leaders.
He must have stolen this headline from DailyKos or Keith Olbermann. They ought to sue Joe for plagiarism.
Posted by: Joe "we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt" Biden | September 25, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
I live in a flood prone area and I know, and my friends and neighbors know, that the good Lord helps those who help themselves and FEMA doesn’t arrive until the waters recede. Before that, emergency preparedness is in your own hands and the hands of your state and local officials.
The residents of New Orleans have been acutely aware of their vulnerability for many, many, many years. And yet their emergency preparedness was a joke. The bigger joke is that they reelected Ray Nagin and started rebuilding again below sea level. You can’t help people who refuse to help themselves.
Posted by: Bridget aka mmm mmm mmm Barack Hussein Obama | September 25, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Would someone please tell me what this president has done beside incur debt? Realistically,does he have any idea what is going on?
Posted by: Nephron | September 25, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
You folks who are trashing new orleanians for “rebuilding the city below sea level” have no idea what you are talking about. Agree, New Orleans could have had a better plan. Agree, Ray Nagin is an idiot.HOWEVER all their resources, police cars, fire trucks, etc were UNDER water. And without the port of New Orleans where it is, 80% of the country would not get oil/gas to heat their homes. Nor would millions of tons of products and goods each year from other places be available to the country by way of the port and the Mississippi River. Also, it was the FEDERAL government (Corps of Engineers) who built the part of the levee in the 1960′s that caved in during Katrina, not the local agencies. And tests have proved it was built UNDER specifications to save money. No one is saying that Bush or FEMA could have saved all of the 1,800 people in new orleans who died (it was actually far more). However if Bush/Brown had responded like real men instead of uncaring demigods, then tens of thousands of people would not have suffered while waiting for help….and many of those people would not have died,including a few friends of mine.
Posted by: Nomadme | September 25, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Nomadme,
Perhaps if they would have listened to the evacuation notices, it wouldn’t have been as large of a problem as it was?
Posted by: stdntDrvr | September 25, 2009, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Never let a crisis go to waste! Katrina! Katrina! Katrina! Way to score some cheap political points. Oh, that Joe!
Posted by: Woody | September 25, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
“And without the port of New Orleans where it is, 80% of the country would not get oil/gas to heat their homes. Nor would millions of tons of products and goods each year from other places be available to the country by way of the port and the Mississippi River. ”
Oh I agree with you that the Port of New Orleans, being at the confluence of he Mississippi river and the Gulf of Mexico is very important. It’s not the rebuilding of important port facilities I object to. It’s rebuilding homes where people live below sea level that I object to. I’ve been to New Orleans plenty of times, and there’s plenty of higher ground to build on for homes.
Posted by: Bridget aka mmm mmm mmm Barack Hussein Obama | September 25, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
“Agree, New Orleans could have had a better plan. Agree, Ray Nagin is an idiot.HOWEVER all their resources, police cars, fire trucks, etc were UNDER water. ”
Yes, I know. And the funny thing is, people who criticize FEMA must think FEMA has resources that float. Lucky for the Georgia flood victims that they now have a President who walks on water….
About the only thing you can do when you are in New Orleans and a Katrina is coming at you is get the hell out. And you have to do it before you know for sure you’re going to get hit or it’s too late. My quibble is with people who bash Bush and FEMA when there is nothing that could have been done. Katrina was that catastrophic.
Posted by: Bridget aka mmm mmm mmm Barack Hussein Obama | September 25, 2009, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
As a kansan I have been through thousands of tornados or storms passing by where Tornados were possible and in most of those circumstances you have little warning of an impending tornado…you may be warned of the conditions but the fact that they pick up and put down so randomly makes for every storm one to take proper precautions for…It is frustrating to know that people who live in the Gulf area and no the history of what Hurricanes can do still do not take proper precautions especially when you have sometimes a week or more warning that impending doom is heading your way…you make your bead…you sleep in it!
Posted by: Chris | September 25, 2009, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
Why did it take at least three days to for the federal govt to declare disaster areas in GA?
Posted by: Concerned | September 25, 2009, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
The idiots in NOLA that didn’t leave when they knew a huge hurricane was coming their way have NO ONE to blame but themselves. That’s what happens when you expect big daddy government to do everything including wiping you hind end for you. Personal responsibility is sorely lacking in their vocabulary.
Posted by: bo | September 25, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
Get lost Joe. The fine people of Georgia don’t need your help or advice so why don’t you go to New Orleans and whine and complain there. 2012 can’t get here fast enough.
Posted by: Larry | September 25, 2009, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
“We know we can’t make everything right. But we know we’re going to do everything we can to make it all right.”
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Posted by: Jason | September 26, 2009, 2:01 am 2:01 am
I am disgusted with the US Atmy Corps of Engineers Mobile AL HQ. These bureaucrats during the recent flooding released water (although a mimimum amount)from Lake Lanier into the swollen waters. Lake Lanier was 6+ feet from full lake elevation and 20+ feet from flood level and there was no good reason for releasing any water from Lake Lanier. I am not happy.
Posted by: Robert G Sorbet | September 26, 2009, 7:07 am 7:07 am
NO…….the Vice-President was doing his job….. 3 days? I would say that was quick…..comparing to 6 days when an American city literally drowned. The REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WAS ‘PRAYING’ FOR RAIN JUST LAST YEAR….. THESE SO-CALLED CHRISTIANS WITHOUT A MORAL FABRIC IN THEIR BONES NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND….”BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR”…… AND WHY DID THE STATE OF GEORGIA ALLOW WATER TO FLOW FROM ONE OF THE LITTLE LAKES DOWN THERE WHILE IT WAS FLOODING? And the Last Time I checked Georgia didn’t VOTE for the President anyway…..so he couldn’t be “using” Georgians for a “photo-op” as you suggested in your comments….And isn’t FEMA a “socialized” program…….and didn’t the REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR..used a “photo-op” to REJECT Stimulus money? And now he wants a “socialized governmnent ran program” (FEMA) to bail the state out, after asking “GOD” for RAIN. LOL
Posted by: sara | September 26, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
Jason…. I wonder WHO paved “the road to hell” in the prior DECADES….It had to take longer than 9 months to “pave a road to hell”, isn’t that rational?
Posted by: sara | September 26, 2009, 8:56 am 8:56 am
Just a little context cuz some of these comments seem bizarre to me. First of all, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has said that the floods are a “once in 500 years flood,”… the odds of such a thing happening are less “than 0.2 percent in any given year.” The floods have affected 20 counties, caused the deaths of least nine people, and created about $250 million in damages. Two very conservative Republican senators, Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, have commended “the White House’s quick response.” Acutally, Chambliss said the admin’s response was “magnificent” and “quick. Isakson said he had spent last night on the phone with local officials, all of whom reported FEMA workers on the ground–yep that FEMA, which three years was described as being in shambles. I’m glad to hear that FEMA is back on track, and was happy to see the VP there.
Posted by: Alyson | September 26, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am
@Alyson You make great sense. I have no problem with FEMA, Obama, or Biden; but I do have a problem with the Corps of Engineers releasing water from a flood control lake into swollen waters during a flash flood. My nephew lost a lifelong friend in these floods. I live in Douglas County Georgia and my heart goes out to all of the victims.
Posted by: Robert G Sorbet | September 26, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I do have a problem with the Corps of Engineers releasing water from a flood control lake into swollen waters during a flash flood. My nephew lost a lifelong friend in these floods. I live in Douglas County Georgia and my heart goes out to all of the victims.
***
I’m so very, very sorry for your nephew’s loss, and I hope you and your family and friends are all okay. Please hang in there. I have read that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
is getting a lot of criticism from Georgians right now for mismanagement of the water at Lake Lanier– though I confess I’m a little confused as to what they did, why, and so on.
Posted by: Alyson | September 26, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
@Alyson I do not believe that the COE directed water release from Lake Lanier killed anyone or exacerbated the flooding situation to any great extent, what I do know is that there has been hard feelings for many years between Georgians and the Corps, and what prompted my anger was a Press Release issued by the Corps Mobile AL HQ which I can no longer access or it has been taken down for some good or bad reason.
Posted by: Robert G Sorbet | September 26, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
I also feel we need someone to watch the corp of engingeer. They have constantaly released more water than they should have over the past two summers and dried up some surrounding lakes which were on some people’s property after saying they would only take some of the water…they left nothing….Who moniters them? I think an investigation should be made as to who is watching and supervising them.
Posted by: talmag | September 26, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Nearly half of the Katrina victims were over the age of 75.
Posted by: MrUniteUs | September 26, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
BO your comment is somewhat silly. If everyone could have left I am sure most would have, but its kind of hard when you have a medical conditions and no money and now where to go to just pick up and leave. I am sure the children who depended on their parents who couldnt get them out will be thrilled to know you think they are idiots, Oh well guess it just sucks for them that their parents were poor who cares right?
Posted by: rachel | September 27, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Isn’t this part of Georgia that didn’t want government intrusion, govt. help, and govt. programs? Would there be conflicting ideological qualms while these people stand in line for govt handouts? How does the GOP expect such people to live in their own skin? Just wondering.
Posted by: Dave F | September 27, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
bo: I know which political party you belong to without asking. Like you, I believe in taking personal responsibility; however, I also know that there are limits on how much responsibility a person’s situation will allow him/her to assume. For example, if you were living in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina and working in a minimum wage job, HOW were you going to get out and WHERE were you going to go? Transportation costs money and another roof over your head costs money. It is easy for those who have money to buy a plane ticket and rent a hotel room to say that they would have taken “personal responsibility” and left. Let them never forget that their money enables them to make that statement.
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | September 27, 2009, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
It will be easier to help out Atlanta for Obama than New Orleans was for Bush – Obama doesn’t have to work around that idiot Louisiana governor that felt ‘it would make her look bad’ to receive help from the Bush White House. Bush should have sent in Federal troops with or without her approval, but then I’m sure they’d nail him on Constitutional grounds for that as well.
Posted by: Bill | September 27, 2009, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
GOV. Perdue make a point to REJECT government money- because it was from OBAMA.
Now he needs that money and some more—how convenient.
No MATTER WHAT OBAMA does, he will be critized for moving too slowly, or too fast -why? Not because he is a democrat, but because he is a Black democrat who’;s got the nerve to have actually become everyone’s president.
Posted by: Teresa | September 28, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
Bill, about
“It will be easier to help out Atlanta for Obama than New Orleans was for Bush – Obama doesn’t have to work around that idiot Louisiana governor….”
Part of being a President is to work with ones political opponents and implement shared solutions. No one person is an autocrat in a democracy. Of course Bush failed this lesson spectacularly and it’s no surprise that his term was called the imperial presidency, unitary power, and the like.
Posted by: dave f | September 28, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
I am so tired of the Democrats and Liberals game of blame the Republicans speech. On every issue its the same speech. The Democrats need to take a look in the mirror and people need to realize this is a party that has had a Majority in The House and Senate since 1-1-07 Over 2 years and what have they done? NOTHING! Democrats did not win because this is a center-left country because it is not polls prove time and time again this is a center-right society! Democrats won because Republicans lost sight of the core Conservative values and spent irresponsibly! And as for New Orleans, yes the Federal government could have had a better response and had aid faster but tell me this what were all the school busses doing locked up to get flooded under water instead of being ordered by the Democratic Mayer at the time to evacuate all these people? It is not like this was a surprise. People need to wake up and separate the dislike of Bush from the Republican party as a whole. Bush is just one person in the party but no matter the race that is the Democratic battle cry! An anti-bush vote for President has lead to the most Liberal Free spending Democratic candidate ever. I am sick of his double talk pie in the sky speeches that are just words. I am tired of is Anti-American apologetic speeches. This man would rather complain about that United States than Stand next to her and be proud of her. Democrats find another channel other than MSNBC to get your “NEWS”. Does any Democrat have and original thought anymore? Or is it all spoon fed B.S?
Posted by: batesba74 | September 28, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
“I am so tired of the Democrats and Liberals game of blame the Republicans…”
Right. After 8 years of blaming Clinton for every failure including 9/11, your plea rings hollow.
Posted by: RInsigth | September 28, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
So no money for GA victims. Government shouldn’t be expected to help with your problems, so what if there are drowned babies, dogs, homes, and homeless people who cares.
Government should not be the solution–take care of yourself.
Posted by: WideAwake | October 1, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm