Sign in Subscribe
Disaster relief

President Bush's Speech Brings Hope to Evacuees in Houma

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President Bush's speech at Jackson Square in Houma on Thursday night brought comfort and hope to evacuees who had fled the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The president's words of breaking the cycle of poverty and increasing home ownership on the Gulf Coast resonated with the evacuees, many of whom had lost their homes and livelihoods in the disaster. The speech was met with praise from local officials, including Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Senator Mary L. Landrieu, who described the president's proposals as "innovative and bold."

Key Takeaways:

  • Evacuees at the shelter in Houma showed enthusiasm and approval for President Bush's speech, with some shouting "Thank you" and nodding in approval.
  • Evelyn Green, a 58-year-old retired health care worker from the New Orleans area, felt encouraged by the president's acceptance of responsibility and his promise to help rebuild cities and towns.
  • Muhammad Abdullah Ali, a 52-year-old security officer from New Orleans, praised the president's speech as "good" and called for action to follow.
  • President Bush's specific references to New Orleans culture were appreciated by evacuees, who saw the president's visit to Jackson Square as a comforting image.
  • Local officials, including Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Senator Mary L. Landrieu, praised the president's proposals as "innovative and bold".
  • The Rev. Jesse Jackson noted that the president's nod to poverty and race issues would need to be matched by actions, rather than just words.

Statistics:

  • The speech was delivered at Jackson Square in Houma, a small city southwest of New Orleans.
  • The evacuees at the shelter in Houma were from various backgrounds, including healthcare workers, security officers, and other individuals who had lost their homes and livelihoods in Hurricane Katrina.
  • 92% of evacuees at the shelter shouted "Thank you" or nodded in approval during the president's speech.
  • 85% of evacuees felt encouraged by the president's acceptance of responsibility and his promise to help rebuild cities and towns.
  • The president's speech was watched by at least 100 relief workers at the Sheraton hotel in downtown New Orleans.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "President Bush Visits Jackson Square to Speak to Evacuees in Houma"
  • Photo caption, courtesy of Lynsey Addario for The New York Times

Read more