REUTERS
REUTERS
Posted on 08/27/2011 11:04:24 AM PDT by mandaladon
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency's command center on Saturday as Hurricane Irene began making its way up the East Coast, and 6,500 American troops were told to be ready in case they are needed for relief work.
The center helps coordinate the government's response to natural disasters such as this weekend's hurricane, and the president offered encouragement to emergency management staff from across the federal government.
"Everybody here, you guys are doing a great job," Obama told dozens of workers who were at their computer stations. The workers wore red or blue vests with their job descriptions on their backs.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told 6,500 active duty troops to be prepared for a possible order for them to help with Hurricane Irene relief assistance. Panetta issued a prepare-to-deploy order for the troops from all branches of the military if support relief efforts are required, spokesman George Little said.
The request for the possible help came from states in the path of the storm.
Obama, accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and his assistant for homeland security, John Brennan, said he was monitoring the situation closely. He thanked everyone for their efforts.
"''This is still obviously going to be a touch and go situation for a lot of communities, but knowing that they've got an outstanding response team like this will make all the difference in the world," he said. "Especially because you all are not going to get any sleep for the next 72 hours or so."
Earlier Saturday, Obama got a fresh update on the storm from his emergency management team.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
President Bush worked behind the scenes with a governor that refused help and then was criticized for not helping.
Bambi goes in front of the cameras at FEMA and he's a miracle worker.
I’m glad it was a photo-op because the audio was awful. The President sounded weak and hollow and there was a loud teletype machine like sound in the background. I hope FEMA HQ is not still using teletype machines in 2011.
Yea, I think that Christie has won the contest.
REUTERS
REUTERS
LOLOL
I’m very comforted to know that Our President is on top of this situation.
I think that’s a totally unfair characterazation.
He also lies awake at night worrying that someone might be spending his or her own money and not leeching off someone else.
forr all the hype of bozo during the election and afterward ......whether he went to this college or that grad school- there is one fundamental lesson this clown never learned.
It’s called measuring your words. In all the hotsy-totsy schools he attended (imho) ass clown never picked up on real leadership qualities-he wasn’t anyone’s gold star-he just slubbed thru his whole career because inmo he is an easily led individual He’s such a cut-out. Who wants a follower for the next prez of the US?
As far as a “leader”? This ass-hat has demonstrated his lack of leadership qualities but you know & I know the bum has a quirky way of rationalizing for the things he has failed to do. I give him a grade F
forr all the hype of bozo during the election and afterward ......whether he went to this college or that grad school- there is one fundamental lesson this clown never learned.
It’s called measuring your words. In all the hotsy-totsy schools he attended (imho) ass clown never picked up on real leadership qualities-he wasn’t anyone’s gold star-he just slubbed thru his whole career because inmo he is an easily led individual He’s such a cut-out. Who wants a follower for the next prez of the US?
As far as a “leader”? This ass-hat has demonstrated his lack of leadership qualities but you know & I know the bum has a quirky way of rationalizing for the things he has failed to do. I give him a grade F
And what makes you think he was there?
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