President Obama delivered a statement from the Diplomatic Room of the White House Tuesday morning, warning residents of the Gulf Coast to "listen to your local officials and follow their directions" in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac to make landfall Tuesday evening. On Monday, the president signed a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, ensuring that avenues of federal funding and support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were open.
"We’re dealing with a big storm and there could be significant flooding and other damage across a large area," the president said. "Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously."
Here are the president's full remarks:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. This morning I want to say a few words about tropical storm Isaac and the steps that we’re taking to keep people safe and minimize the damage.
I just got an update from Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Fugate, the head of FEMA, and Dr. Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center, on preparations that underway in the Gulf. This storm isn’t scheduled to make landfall until later today, but at my direction FEMA has been on the ground for over a week working with state and local officials in areas that could be affected - from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to Florida, and more recently, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.
Yesterday I approved a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana so they can get the help that they need right away, particularly around some of the evacuations that are taking place. And right now, we already have response teams and supplies ready to help communities in the expected path of the storm.
As we prepare for Isaac to hit, I want to encourage all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate. We’re dealing with a big storm and there could be significant flooding and other damage across a large area. Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously.
And finally, I want to thank everyone who has been working around the clock to get ready for Isaac. The hardest work, of course, is still ahead. And as President, I’ll continue to make sure that the federal government is doing everything possible to help the American people prepare for and recover from this dangerous storm. And as we get additional updates from the Hurricane Center as well as from FEMA in terms of activities on the ground, we’ll be providing continuous updates both at the local and the national level.
I am not going tempt fate IM TAKING MY COWARD BEHIND TO DENVER TO HIDE, its who i am, its what im about, , all talk no action
AWWWW, DON'T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF BB. WE ALREADY KNOW YOU ARE A COWARD AND A NUTJOB.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
In 2008, obama promised transparency ... to fix our economy ... to defend our constitution. In 2008 Americans were deceived by obama, and sold a bill of goods. Everyone got so swept up by his soaring rhetoric ... so that unfortunately, when the honeymoon was soon over, we were left with a FAR left ideologue, who ran this country into the ground. Therefore, those who voted for obama in 2008, at least had an excuse, of not knowing any better ... BUT, anybody who falls for his B.S. in 2012, is just a fool and a sucker, whose gullible lack of judgement will bring down this country ... beyond repair. America is MORE important than obama ... obama is replaceable ... America is not !!! SAVE AMERICA ... ROMNEY/RYAN 2012 !!!
hey de12, your back did mommy let u on the computer again??? or did u sneak down to the basement like last time,
get over it im a indy not a party suck up like u
bb must indicate the size of your brain.
I WONDER IF YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT BEING AN INDEPENDENT MEANS. YOU DEFINITELY LACK THE CRITICAL THINKING FOR IT.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Don't worry bb, President Obama will do a far better job than bush to help the hurricane victims even if he was sleeping at the WH. you and your party only make noise, thats all you are good at...
Hopefully, he'll do better than:
Kathleen Blanco, the Governor at the time, wh fialed to implement LOCAL, emergency plans to ensure her citizens were safe
Ray Nagen, the NOLA mayor, who failed to use available school buses to transport folks out of the the city. Instead he decided to wait for the Feds to provide trailways and greyhounds. Remember the pictures of the flooded school buses?
One more thing, these two were BOTH Democrats!
The President of the United States above all, who happend to be GOP has the power to declare Federal State of Emergency.
BlkPwr817
The President of the United States above all, who happend to be GOP has the power to declare Federal State of Emergency.
---
And so could have the local officials! Democrats also failed!
What does bush have to do with this ??? is that the best u got?? u all dumbocraps always compare Oblameo to bush who says sucks= so in common s ense than Oblunder must suck also, birds of a feather, get some new stuff kid your an embarrassmnet
Don't you know yet? It has to be about Bush for the libs. If they can keep the "party line" going maybe nobody will notice all the things going wrong under this administration. Or, maybe people won't notice that Obama hasn't done anything but campaign for months now.
@Steveo....According to testimony Blanco stopped trying to arrange school buses because FEMA was supposingly sending them buses, and the government was suppose to use Chinook helicopters to rescue people, but then the buses didn't arrive that afternoon...so again they begin looking for buses with drivers.
But you can read the whole thing at: http://katrinacoverage.com/tag/school-buses
It was a monumental collapse of a timely FEMA response.
Hey jean,
I quick looked at some articles which you so graciously provided. I saw a LOT of blame to LOCAL OFFICIALS who had NO plan! UH OH! To hear you lefties tell it, it was ALL Bush! YOUR OWN info blames LOCAL leadership!
NAVEY SEALS REVEAL THE TRUTH !!!
... ADD OBAMA'S FAKED REPORT OF BIN LADIN'S DEATH
TO THE PACK OF LIES OBAMA HAS TOLD AMERICA ...
IN HIS DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO HOLD ONTO POWER.
SAVE AMERICA ... DUMP OBMA ... ELECT ROMNEY & RYAN IN NOVEMBER !!!
Now I'm starting to think that not even you know WTF you're talking about. You've said the same thing over & over all morning. Not once have you made a lick of sence. You can't possibly be talking about the POTUS being in Denver hiding out or whatever when he made this statement about the Tropical Storm this morning from the Diplomatic Room. Which is in the WHITE HOUSE...lol Crazy how people like you need their MEDS but refuse ObamaCare...SMH
like your handle, however why isnt oblunder going the big easy??? ans= because hes hiding in denver
We're going to get thru this together bb. Don't worry. One nation under GOD. Remember that...
bb(s) for brains
NO PRESIDENT FLIES INTO A PLACE WHERE A STORM IS HAPPENING YOU DUMMY. Seriously, dude are you THAT DELUSIONAL??
no cindy he doesnt fly into NO or anyplace near a storm, he flys off to a college town to campaign. Thats true leadership. Face it he is out of touch with what real leaders do in thwe time of hardships to millions of Americans affected by the storm. Have another Homemade beer Obama & that was a two point shot you just made not a three point.
blkpwr
To declare a federal emergency for a state (of a few states) would be a total abuse of that power. The federal government can make funds and supplies available to states in an emergency. Federal state of emergency is a war level event. Not to be used for a hurricane. If that super volcano blows in the west, that might count. That will effect 3/4 of the lower 48 states. Hurricanes have effected the entire east coast of the US and no federal state of emergency was declared.
He directed Fema to be there long before Issac came. Everything is in place AND HAS BEEN, Obama can be anywhere and IS STILL IN TOUCH WITH EVERYONE from Gov's to Red Cross and everything in between. So, your argument is flimsy as a paper tiger.
i am sure there are many families that wished their loved ones had done just that for Katrina
While the Repugs are having a BS party in Florida, OBAMA is taking charge and getting things done. By the way a Repug was in charge during Katrina remember? Deer in the headlights...remember?
It is the President's job to look after these things. When Romney becomes president in November/12, he will be taking charge come January/13. Never mind everything will be back to normal once Obama is sent back to Chicago. We have had so many disasters in the last couple of years....I wonder why????????????
Prediction: Nobody in New Orleans dies and the rain brings desperately needed moisture to the Midwest. (So much for talk about heartless GOP holding their conference during this calamity. Besides, it's not stopping the president from campaigning in Iowa and Colorado yesterday, then Virginia today.)
Obama has always been a coward. After registering minorities to vote in Illinois, he ran for senate, only to cancel out their votes, by disqualifying his opponent (a black woman) on a technicality. Obama attended Wrght's church for TWENTY YEARS, to create a political base in the Black community ... only to throw Wright under the bus, when it benefited him, for political expediency. Obama ruthlessly used baseless character assassination to destroy the reputations of all who stood in the way of his self-serving ambitions. Obama is a lying snake oil salesman, who will say, or do anything to hold onto power. America is much more important than Obama ... Obama is replaceable ... America is not ... Save America, replace Obama with Romney & Ryan in November.
what are you retards talking about? You now who is a Coward?! Romney the rich mama's boy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never worked a day in his life (looting companies is not work)
AMERICA'S CHOICE:
OBAMA ... WHO PUT US 16 TRILLION IN DEBT & 8.3% UNEMPLOYMENT
ROMNEY ... Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in
Massachusetts, turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores
employing 90,000 people.
Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business
miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy,
Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group,
Dollarama, Home Depot Supply, and many others.
Hooo. Obama is responsible for 15 trillions of deficit!! I don't know how I'll become republican one day. They are the most hypocrite, lieres and none sense people. Everything that they say is without facts
The president does not put this country in debt!!!!!! WE DO!!!!!! WE BUY EVERYTHING THAT DOESNT CARRY AN AMERICAN FLAG SYMBOL, OUR COMPANIES RAISE PRICES ON PRODUCTS TO MAKE A PROFIT, NOT FOR THE COMMUNITY OR NATION, ITS FOR THE BIG WIGS WHO RUN THESE COMPANIES! THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN IN THE HOLE FOR DECADES NOW, AND SHIT AINT NEVER GOING TO CHANGE. EVERYONE KILLS ME THINKING BECAUSE WE ELECT A PRESIDENT INTO OFFICE, THEY THINK THAT PRESIDENT IS GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING. WE AS A COUNTRY NEED TO LEARN TO HELP OUR SELVES, STOP POINTING THAT BIG ASS FINGER. IF THIS IS OWN LAND, WHERE WE RESIDE, WHERE WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN, THEN WHY ARENT WE FIGHTING BACK. WHY ARENT WE HOLDING STRONG AND STEADY, FIXING OUR OWN SHIT, PROTECTING WHATS OURS. ROMNEY AND HIS GANG ISNT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING, IF HE WINS, THEN YOU WILL BE CRYING OVER THAT! READY TO POINT THAT BIG ASS FINGER AT SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!
the fact is that most people that live along the gulf coast know way more about how to handle a hurricane than most govenment officials, just cut the state gov a check after its over, other than that...we got this
Did you even read teh article? FEMA has been on the ground for over a week helping people to prepare. A state of disaster has already been announced. Seems like they're a lot better prepared than they were with Bush for katrina.
Nno worries this time. Obama's secertary got the call from the Louisiana Governor last night. At least 5 days ahead of his Katrina conterpart.
My thoughts go out to those along the Gulf Coast but it's surprising that so few people know that days after Katrina Bush was quoted as saying, "No one could have foreseen the breach of the levees." 6 months after Katrina video and transcripts surfaced showing Bush being warned days in advance by experts that it was quite probable that the levees would be breached and that Katrina was going to be devastating. Bush asked no questions but said that "everything would be taken care of." He was thus caught in 2 bold-faced lies.
For those who weren't present, Katrina and the floods were much larger in scope than the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Northridge, California Earthquake, 9/11, and the San Diego Wildfires combined. While there were tons of failures on the local level, no local or state authorities anywhere were equipped enough to handle such an enormous disaster.
Paul Harris
Author, "Diary From the Dome, Reflections on Fear and Privilege During Katrina"
Steveo, I did not ask for your suggestion...
Cool! Because I did decided not to wait for it! Beside, I didn't give a suggestion. I provided a Paul Harvey.. THE REST OF THE STORY, the part where you left out how DEMS failed their people! Sounds like you're tad angry at the TRUTH!
Sounds like you're just plain ol' angy. Why is that I wonder? I hope you do something about it come Nov. after re-election. IDK what we'll do for another 4 years w/ an ANGRY STEVEO...lol
Not angry in the least! That is what you get for guessing wrongly AGAIN! You not tired of that yet?
No Sir. haven't guessed wrong at all TBH. I just call it like I see. Or in this case read it...LOL Nor am I tired of stating the FACTS. Which is what get s lost a lot when people like you & me get emotional & think with our hearts not our minds.
As per usual Steveo only has what he makes up along the way. He is going to let facts like opposing testimony get in the way.
Hi jean! Are you telling me Nagin did not fail? Blanco did not fail! come on now! Dems or not, these folks failed. Opposing testimony or not
Actually, evacuation orders were cancelled Tuesday morning i nNew Orleans.
So once again.., Obama leads from behind. ie.., its too late to get out now and fate is all that you have left.
Ironically, much like Obama's progressively socalistic plan for America,.
NICE !!!
Shouldn't you be in school right now? You're not going to get your GED by posting vile crap on the internet.
Three days after the explosion, the Dutch government offered to assist the United States by sending ships equipped with oil-skimming booms. It also provided a plan for creating sand barriers to protect the sensitive marshlands of the Gulf coast.
According to Geert Visser, Consul General for the Netherlands in Houston “The embassy got a nice letter from the administration that said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’”
Almost seven weeks later, the administration finally relented and agreed to accept partial Dutch assistance with the cleanup. The administration has not accepted Dutch ships, but has allowed the skimming booms to be airlifted from the Netherlands and deployed in the Gulf.
Part of the problem is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act. This act is a piece of protectionist legislation which requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. The provisions of this act make it illegal for the Dutch to come to our aid.
Geert Visser was noticeably confused by the administrations intransigence in refusing Dutch assistance, “What’s wrong with accepting outside help? If there’s a country that’s experienced with building dikes and managing water, it’s the Netherlands.”
The government is also making it difficult for the Dutch to provide assistance in creating sand barriers to prevent the spilled oil from reaching the gulf shores. Van Oord, a Dutch company and Deltares, a Dutch research institute provided plans to build 60 mile sand dikes and the government rebuffed their offer of assistance. The government has now changed it’s tune and has accepted the plan, but the Jones Act prevents the Dutch from operating in America’s coastal waters.
The United States Maritime Administration could issue a waiver of the Jones Act limitations, and has done so several times in the past. Doing so, however, would subject the Obama administration to criticism from labor unions who demand protection from global competition.
Truth is that George Bush isn't running for President. Do not think that our current President is without fault in everything he does. We have a right and responsibility to question the government.
how many of those republican governors are already looking for government handouts? Are the republicans on house going to hold up emergency aid till they can cut government funding for the needy somewhere else?
What about your welfare check?
That's Ryan's plan.
Ryan's said that is his plan.
"Now is not the time to tempt fate"
Ironically.., the very thing he expects America to do for his re-election.
Which is what probably will happed on Nov. 6. Soon you'll understand...
This guy blows harder than Isaac.
Which guy? Romney or Ryan?
One huge difference here, this is a cat1 not a cat5, not to mention all the reworked levees since the first time.
True but if that storm slows too much, flooding could be a MAJOR issue! The 9th Ward in below sea level!
The storm has hit with 106 mile an hr. winds. Been through a Cat 1 Hurricane in Florida and it was scary and did lot of damage to trees, the powerlines and property and spun off lots of tornadoes. And, Steveo you are right about flooding, even if the leeves hold. New Orleans has pumps but, these are new and shouldn't fail this time. Everything that could've gone wrong last time did. We will see how things hold up after all the years of repair and replacement projects.
GOOD LUCK FOLKS ON THE GULF – OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU!!!
Republican governor ask for federal funds to pay for the hand god has dealt them. Republicans are neither fiscally responsible nor good christians.
Federal funds are just for states with Dem governors? Wake up!
Really more than half the southern states do not have Dem governors...so who is the one who should wake up? YOU!
Besides Vulture/Voucher wants to eliminate federal FEMA aid altogether. http://news.yahoo.com/ryan-opposed-obama-backed-disaster-aid-regime-071533498–election.html
If you read clearly, you will see I am responding to a post that simply mentions federal funds (which is first generated at the STATE LEVEL). Secondly NO regions are mentioned until you. The topic was federal funds and GOP governors. YOU mentioned southern states. Not me nor Ufadoof. YOU did!
First common sense dictates that it takes experienced drivers to drive any bus, and it takes enough pre-planned fuel to get any bus to a safe destination....then think of the logistics of getting every disabled and elderly person not only notified but someone sheparding them to all the designated pick-up points so they can be evacuated in a timely manner by bus. This all needs to be pre-planned and done in the limited amount of time before a category 5 hurricane hits. These things have to be pre-planned and they need to be part of the normal response readily in place by a federal agency ... not some last minute spur of the moment job. Facts are FEMA didn't have a bus plan.
For the reasons YOU state, Blanco and Nagin failed! Yes it should have been pre planned and LOCAL officials did not have a plan!
Neither did FEMA...with the buses they prromised and didn't deliver.
Neither did FEMA,
Exactly. So the next time you decide to lay all of this on Bush, remember FEMA, NOR BLANCO, NOR DID NAGIN HAVE PLANS. LOCAL officials should have had a list of LOCAL bus drivers!
JEAN ... YOUR PLANS CALLS FOR MORE BUSSES THAT OBAMA CAN THROW MORE PEOPLE UNDER ... HE'LL BE DELIGHTED !!!
obama is trying real hard to find something to take credit for...perhaps the storm will leave and he can twist that to his benefit. God knows he has nothing to brag about...not just the last four years, his entire phony life.
OH SURE. HE IS USING HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWERS TO CAUSE A HURRICANE TO DROP INTO THE GULF REGION SO HE CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR HELPING PEOPLE?
YOU CANNOT GET ANY MORE RETARDED THAN THIS AND I EXPECTED NO LESS FROM NOVEMBER 2012.
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Now, Now gents. Do we really need two months in the same year arguing?
DEcember 2012 ... spoken like a typical, foul mouthed, obama stooge ... who thinks that talking A LOT, means you're saying something worthwhile ... when all you do, is spew endless amounts of B.S. !!!
TRY TO STAY ON TOPIC HOWARD. OH WAIT, THIS IS HOWARD I"M TALKING TO. HE CAN'T STAY ON TOPIC FOR 1 SECOND. MUST BE ALL THOSE PAINT CHIPS HE SNACKED ON AS A KID.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Dont worry, now is not time to tempt fate" (now the rest of the speech) " I cannot and will not tempt fate by turning into a leader and going down to check on the fate of my fellow Americans affected by Hurricane Issac, instead I will remain true to my leadership style & head off to College town to campaign to try & get some misguided youth votes that the polls show I am losing? Anybody got a homemade beer for me, I forgot mine at the white house. Chug a lug
Hey don't forget the pork chops. Cuz I'm just like you guys!
"now is not the time to tempt fate" can't we get advice like this from the weatherman? Surely the messiah has something better for us? Right?!!
It is Obama's opinion we should take official warnings seriously. We have heard Obama's opinions before, this one may have merit.
advise from a man who never achieved anything but promote himself into a job he just can't handle. Advise from an empty shirted soap box salesman.
HECKUVA JOB BROWNIE!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!