Daily Kos: Clinton cut trip short BEFORE Floyd hit
U.S. President Bill Clinton said his administration was doing all it could to answer the threat from Hurricane Floyd off America's Southeast coast during a press conference with New Zealand's Prime Minister Jenny Shipley in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999. Clinton is cutting his overseas trip by a day so he can return to Washington to deal with the pending hurricane. He and other Pacific Rim leaders were in New Zealand to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
do NOT fall for it!
First we have:
On September 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd, a storm extending 300 miles with sustained winds of 96--110 miles per hour, made landfall in North Carolina, dropping up to 20 inches of rain in eastern regions of the state. Rain from Hurricane Floyd, combined with rains from Hurricane Dennis beginning on August 30 and Hurricane Irene on October 17, caused extensive flooding along the Neuse, Tar, Roanoke, Lumbar, and Cape Fear rivers, affecting an estimated 2.1 million persons. This report presents data about injuries, illnesses, and deaths during and following Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina and identifies the leading cause of death as drowning involving occupants of motor vehicles trapped in flood waters.
And where was Bill Clinton?
Remarks on Hurricane Floyd in Honolulu, Hawaii - Brief Article
September 15, 1999
Good morning. Let me first say it's good to be back on American soil after a very good week at the APEC conference in New Zealand. I'm especially anxious to get back to Washington to help to deal with the problems caused by Hurricane Floyd.
I have just had telephone calls with our FEMA Director, James Lee Witt, who has been giving me regular updates. And as you know, the storm currently, in its rain form, is battering Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, and is targeting the entire Northeast.
These States are now engaged in the largest peacetime evacuation in our history. Yesterday I announced emergency declarations for Florida and Georgia. Today I am issuing similar declarations for South Carolina and North Carolina. I have just spoken with both Governor Hunt of North Carolina and Governor Hodges of South Carolina. I've assured them that we would do everything we can to help them, and they've given me updates on the problems that they expect to encounter, particularly problems for the farmers in those areas, who, if there is severe flooding, could well lose their entire crops.
Let me commend the efforts of FEMA, the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and the other Federal agencies and State and local officials who are working around the clock to protect people and property. Their efforts, along with new technologies, have enhanced our ability to predict and prepare for these storms. I hope that every citizen will heed the warnings of the officials and the recommendations to take every action to protect their families and stay out of harm's way. Meanwhile, we will continue to take extraordinary :measures to protect lives and property from Hurricane Floyd.
Hawaii! Exactly where he was when Katrina hit!