**FEMA Director Allbaugh on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer**

**09/18/01**

JIM LEHRER: I'm Jim Lehrer. One week later in Washington and New York
the head of the Federal Emergency efforts, a personal story the
investigation and response overseas. Tonight on the Newshour. Now for
the man in charge of the FEMA effort, that agencies Director Joe
Allbaugh. He joins us from New York City. Mr. Allbaugh, welcome.

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: Good evening Jim.

JIM LEHRER: How would you summarize where matters stand? The rescue and
the recover effort? Where does it stand tonight as we speak?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: Well we're just barely scratching the surface to
tell the truth. Here one week later as you say, we have a long way to
go. We have in excess of 1.2 million tons of debris. That's estimated
1.2 million tons to be removed. And that's going to take quite some
time. I just returned from the site this afternoon, a few minutes ago as
a matter of fact. Thousands of workers headed up by the New York City
finest from the police department and the fire department, along with
many people from all across the Country, the USR Teams working as
diligently as respectfully as they possibly can noticing possible areas,
possible voids where individuals may be still be. But it's very, very
dangerous work and time is working against us.

JIM LEHRER: How long, is it possible to estimate how long this is going
to take before you can go through a whole site and ascertain what is
there and what isn't there?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: I think it's going to be months before we can get
through everything. I do think the teams are working as quickly as they
can to go in and do their quick inspections. Looking for those voids.
Hoping, praying that there are individuals still alive, and I believe
that possibility exists. However, I think Mayor Giuliani is absolutely
right, time is slipping away from us and the longer we go without
finding anyone the less likely that we will in the end find anyone
alive.

JIM LEHRER: As a practical matter, the teams go first into particular
area to see if they can find signs of life, and then that area is
released and then the debris is removed. Is that

how it's worked?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: That is correct. You may have seen some tape that
we released today that was shot over the weekend. I'm sure many people
were concerned about seeing the pay loaders lift up debris, but that
debris has already been cleared and made sure that no important items
were in that debris. It's the quickest and easiest way for us to move
large deposits of debris to facilitate the inspection of the rest of the
site.

JIM LEHRER: What kind of assistance is being made available to the
victims, those who survive, and the families of victims who are either
missing or who did not survive?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: Well there are a couple of things that I can talk
about.

Individuals who are displaced for example from their homes in Battery
Park. They need to call and register with the FEMA Hot Line. Let me give
that to you Jim. And I want to be specific about this: 1-800-462-9029.

JIM LEHRER: Say that again. Say it again.

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: Free call. And that starts the process for
temporary housing, unemployment assistance, any medical assistance those
individuals may need. Families that are related to victims they should
probably register with Department of Justice. And I don't want to
confuse people but there are two important 800 numbers. Ours with FEMA
and the Department of Justice Office of Victims for Crime Family
Assistance, that's 1-800-331-0075. Now it's important and we will
co-mingle those data bases, share information so all the families are
part of a massive data base to make sure that they get the assistance
that they need. But those folks do not need to be afraid of anything.
They need to call and that starts the process for all the assistance
that will come their way.

JIM LEHRER: Has there been evidence that people are reluctant, the
families of the victims are reluctant...?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: I think there are Jim, quite frankly. You know
everyone's hoping for all the best that they possibly can. Once they
make a phone call it's almost as if they're acknowledging the harshest
possibility. And I understand that, but at the same time, Jim, there's
counseling that is if need by the people and we need to identify who
those folks are that we can get that counseling to in a very rapid
order.

JIM LEHRER: Much as been said and written about the leadership of Mayor

Giuliani during all of this.

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: Absolutely.

JIM LEHRER: What has been your experience with him these last several
days?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: It's been incredible. I've been here since last
Wednesday night at 5 o'clock. I stepped out for a day and a half to
scoot back to the Pentagon to make sure that we were doing our work
there and we are. And then I came back up yesterday morning, and I can't
imagine New York City going through something like this without Rudy
Giuliani at the helm. And can't imagine the City without his leadership.
He along with Police Commissioner Kerik and Fire Commissioner Tommy Von
Essen have just provided remarkable leadership. And remember Jim, you
know, the leadership by the Fire Department was essentially disseminated
as a result of this incident, so they have rebounded in a remarkable
fashion. The whole City has rebounded. I noticed an attitude of a
lifting of the spirit when I returned yesterday morning. And that's
what's going to get us through all of this. But it's just amazing the
American Spirit and you see it's alive and well in Northern Virginia and
right here in New York City.

JIM LEHRER: The President said today this has brought out the best of

America. Is there a particular example of this that you would cite, a
particular incident which you either witnessed or were told about that
stands out?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: The one thing that I know about, apparently there
was a

lady who stopped by and picked five or six kids, young kids from a
daycare. And she's basically becoming there foster mother because we
don't know who those kids belong to. And that's the kind of American
Spirit, not asking questions it's acting and doing that you don't see
many places around the World. It's absolutely incredible. The best thing
Jim, people can do is donate cash right now. The City is overwhelmed
with individuals who want come and help. Of course we all want to come
and help people. It's getting very technical down at the site, and we
need to leave that to the experts. So please donate cash. There's one
fireman who lost his life the other day, he has ten children still at
home. We have to take care those kids for their future and their
grandkids.

JIM LEHRER: Is that the main need now is money?

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: I think it's money. I do think it's money, Jim.
Of course it's always good to donate blood because we need to have a
ready supply nationwide. I think we're doing well there. Going down to
your local fire department or police department and saying thank you.
Acknowledging what those men and women do on a daily bases putting their
lives on the line. It's very, very important. And it's time to

recognize that we can't continue, particularly at the fire service to
cut their budgets and expect them to do what they need to do. We're
testing our infrastructure of this Country and lives, and we need to
give them the money that need to have the proper equipment and tools to
do their job and also give them the proper recognition.

JIM LEHRER: Mr. Allbaugh good look to you. And thank you very much.

DIRECTOR JIM ALLBAUGH: Thank you Jim.