Labor Secretary, Invoking Katrina, Praises Obama’s Response to Irene

[Geee]

CNSnews:


(CNSNews.com) – In a statement marking the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Monday, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis praised the Obama administration for being “ready” for Hurricane Irene, a weaker storm that has some people criticizing government officials as well as the media for inflating its threat.

"Last week, as the specter of Hurricane Irene loomed, the Obama administration was ready, deploying assistance teams to staging bases up and down the East Coast. They were armed with emergency supplies and detailed contingency plans well before the storm arrived,” Solis said.
“This type of coordinated response is what Americans expect and deserve from their government. We must never again be caught flat-footed,” she added.

Solis says she will never forget seeing “the poor families and terrified children” in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, when she visited the city six years ago as a member of Congress.

“Katrina was a wake-up call to this country about the plight facing our most vulnerable families and the critical role that Washington can and must play to support local communities before, during and after a major disaster,” she said. "Despite what some politicians say, public servants and policymakers in Washington can help save and rebuild lives during times of profound crisis.”

Solis praised President Barack Obama for having “recommitted our government to work more closely than ever before with local officials in New Orleans.” She pointed to the administration’s “Strong Cities, Strong Communities" partnership, which “is putting experts on the ground and putting resources at the city’s disposal to make New Orleans whole again.”