#### FEMA Director Allbaugh interview with Don Imus

**09/26/01**

DON IMUS:\-\-- the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA. And please \-\--. Where were you when the attacks started?

JOE ALLBAUGH: I was in \_\_\_ Montana addressing a group of Emergency
Management officials from all over the U.S., talking about firefighters,
talking about emergency preparedness, talking about terrorism and to
Bosman for a couple of hours, and then flew to Washington. I was there
on Tuesday with the President. Then Wednesday morning I spent time with
him and then what came here to New York.

DON IMUS: What'd you think of, did you, were you watching television
when the second plane flew into the...

JOE ALLBAUGH: I was, I actually just turned on CNN. I thought it was
movie. Like everyone else \_\_\_ I was just stunned at what I had seen,
had just witnessed.

DON IMUS: What did you think?

JOE ALLBAUGH: I thought the first plane was an accident. Obviously, by
the time I realized the second plane was real, it was scary. I knew
immediately \_\_\_. And then I started to mobilize our folks, getting
our game plan would be, given the fact that my team was in the middle of
Montana. It's a great state, but it is an inopportune time and place for
us to be located.

DON IMUS: One of the things that the media, we all thought, Joe, when
Oklahoma City was additionally that it was a terrorist. \_\_\_, but, so
it was... Who did you think was responsible?

JOE ALLBAUGH: I didn't know. My thoughts immediately was, firefighters,
brave firefighters of the New York City Fire Department and police
officers in New York City and those innocent men and women in both
towers. I'd just been, the previous week here in New York City with
Rescue One, down on 42^nd^ Street or 43^rd^ Street. Met some really
fine, wonderful individuals. And a lot of those folks are still missing
today. And Ray Downey, a first class individuals, Chief Ray Downey, New
York City Fire Department. And Captain Terry Hadden, one was sitting on
my left and one was sitting on my right. For an hour and a half we sat
in the firehouse with these men and women, brave men and women, talking
about what the do, what they need, how we can improve \_\_\_in dangerous
situations. And the next thing we know they're gone..

DON IMUS: I've always though that not just this incident we're talking
about. why a person want to be a cop of a fireman. It seems crazy.

JOE ALLBAUGH: I will you tell you that in this country we have these
pervasive attitudes that firefighters in particular, fire departments,
the first in line for budget cuts and the last line for recognition. And
that attitude has to stop. No if and or buts. We have to make sure that
everyone is properly trained, properly equipped and never try to put
them in harm's way, even though they're there day in and day out. And
keep in mind here in New York City, not only are we dealing with what's
going on down the street, lower Manhattan, but across the river in this
\_\_\_ But, they're continuing they're daily normal routine responding
to fires, responding to auto accidents, all those things they've been
doing as part of their normal routine up until that point on the 11^th^.
And it has been emotional. I will tell that it has Don. And they have
responded remarkably. Mayor Giuliani and Gov. Pataki, Police
Commissioner Kerik, Tommy Von Essen the Fire Commissioner, they have
provided, and Frank Ruthers the new chief, have provided an incredible
amount of leadership for this community at a time that we desperately
needed it. Had this happened in any other city, except for maybe
Chicago, New York or a few others, we would be approaching this in a
much different fashion. But, because of the strength of the City, the
spirit of the City that I've seen, New Yorkers have rebounded in fine
fashion. And will continue to think about those.6,000 plus workers
\_\_\_\_.

DON IMUS: \-\--.

JOE ALLBAUGH: FEMA. The Federal government, the way that we respond.
Normally we are present ...

DON IMUS: \-\--

JOE ALLBAUGH: ...to state coordinating and facilitating all the federal
aspects that \_\_\_ regardless of \_\_\_. The first line of defense our
local community, cities, counties, towns and then the state's becomes
the lead ball player. And when all those assets at the local level and
the state level are exhausted, that's when FEMA comes into play. And
given the nature of this incident, obviously over 6,000 people \-\--New
York City from all over the United States, all walks of life. We are
shoulder to shoulder with New Yorkers doing whatever.... I've never seen
as much cooperation and coordination without any problem, as I have seen
in the last two weeks.

DON IMUS: Is this still technically designated a rescue and recovery
scene?

JOE ALLBAUGH: It is a response mode that...

DON IMUS: It's a crime scene too.

JOE ALLBAUGH: It's a crime scene. It's also a memorial site for the
\_\_\_ and the workers are working diligently, as quickly as they
possibly can. Yet they're very respectful of the site. And they should
be.

DON IMUS: What does, does FEMA play a role in deciding what's going to
happen?

JOE ALLBAUGH: What's going to happen?

DON IMUS: Because there was an article in the New York Times this
morning, where they're beginning now the debate already, over what
they're going to do there. And they point out that it is a \-\--.

JOE ALLBAUGH: I doubt that we will have a role in what will ultimately
happen to the site. It's a very large area, you know. That is something
left up, mainly, to the local individuals, New York City, it's leaders.
And that can be debated sometime in the future. Now is not the ...

DON IMUS: What's your relationship with the President, how far back do
you go?

JOE ALLBAUGH: The President and I first met in his dad's 1988 race. And
we reconnected in '94 when \_\_\_ Anne Richards \_\_\_. involved in his
campaign and we did his transition after he won and then became his
Chief of Staff, which I've known for five years until \_\_\_ and the
Presidential Campaign.

DON IMUS: So, you know him very well.

JOE ALLBAUGH: We've been together, we started our eight years \_\_\_.
I'm very proud of him. He is an incredible individual. He is strong. He
is resolved. He is focused. And he should be, to be providing the right
kind of leadership that I've been used to as I've been with him in
Texas. I know a lot of people are surprise ....

DON IMUS: \-\--

JOE ALLBAUGH: I didn't say that, Don.

DON IMUS: Well, I didn't. We have a lot of them. \_\_\_ In fact I voted
for him.

JOE ALLBAUGH: You did.

DON IMUS: Because I really got \_\_\_ Actually, did you vote in Florida?

JOE ALLBAUGH: Several times.

DON IMUS: Well, actually, I voted for McCain, didn't I? I voted for
McCain because \-\--. He supported Bush. Anyway, the reason he did, I
was \-\--. And you know \-\-- I'm talking just briefly before we went on
the air. And the history has a remarkable way of just sorting things
out.

JOE ALLBAUGH: It's what we do. It's also a collectively we are an
intelligent group of people. We may be slow in making decisions, but
ultimately, I've got a stake in the citizens of the United States. We
will ultimately make the right decision.

DON IMUS: Well that's not \-\--. And everybody else is not looking for
\-\--. But, when the President came and visited the site, how we
instantly bonded with those firemen and the other people. When he put
his arm around that one fireman, that was a great, very --

JOE ALLBAUGH: He is a \_\_\_ individual. And I just wish every American
had the opportunity to get to know him as I have. He's the right man for
the time.

DON IMUS: We're used, just regular citizens, to seeing people in
government get all jacked up about something, enthusiastic and gung-ho.
And then loose focus and move onto something else, but that's unlikely
to happen with him.

JOE ALLBAUGH: This is now the focus of his administration. And I know
him. When he says something, he means it. And Americans will come to
know that if they haven't seen it demonstrated already. This is a
serious, serious business. And not only effects our lives, our
children's lives, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren. And he
believes very deeply that it's his responsibility to take the necessary
steps now so this won't be a problem in the future.

DON IMUS: \-\-- that you can tell us? That you're willing to tell us.
What was his reaction to \-\--?

JOE ALLBAUGH: I have total \_\_\_. And I've never seen the President as
affected by anything as he was at the site. Such a touching, was a
touching moment. And both he and Laura, fabulous First Lady for our
country, their hearts are broken like all of us. Yet, there is this
resilient spirit that we have in this country, that no other country can
duplicate or replicate. They come close in some areas, but we are unique
on this earth. And that's why we'll get through this, we're going to get
through it together.

DON IMUS: What happened was particularly horrifying for people in New
York, I'm starting to \-\-- or not. But, having been on top of those
buildings, even a window washer on the side, it was beyond, it is beyond
horrifying to think about people jumping out of those windows in that
building.

JOE ALLBAUGH: Actually, I try not to think about it. I go there for a
couple of hours every day. And I think it is so touching that I just
move to inability to describe what I feel. And yet, you have men and
women, additional heroes, putting their lives at risk trying to get at
their brothers and sisters in that rubble. These dogs that we have, the
hi-tech equipment that we have. This is a, there are miracles going on.
I talked to a, the wife of a firefighter who is missing. And she just
found out that she's pregnant. And her husband didn't know. But, life
goes on. This is a miracle that's taken place. I'm sure there are many
miracles like that, that are replicated throughout New York City.

DON IMUS: The Mayor said that, \-\--

JOE ALLBAUGH: \_\_\_we really are. The rescue workers, fire, police the
USR Teams they go into those pockets, and they run into carbon monoxide,
which is deadly. And that forces them to back out after about 20-25
minutes. And take as much as an hour an hour and fifteen breaks to
recoup. And it's very strenuous. Not only on the physical side, but the
mental side crawling around inside the rubble. It is tough duty and it
takes unique individuals. That's why I think Americans ought to go to
the Fire Departments and Police Departments and say "Thank you". And
every one of these team that are coming in from outside of New York.
When they return they ought to be welcomed home ...

DON IMUS: I'm not surprised. Some of these guy from Indiana or some
place drove a fire truck there.

JOE ALLBAUGH: Yeah.

DON IMUS: What do you think of the Mayor?

JOE ALLBAUGH: He's a great individual. I can't imagine the City
operating without him, Rudy Giuliani at the helm.

DON IMUS: I can't either \-\--

JOE ALLBAUGH: I'm an out of towner.

DON IMUS: \-\--

JOE ALLBAUGH:Don't get me into New York City politics then.

DON IMUS: Well, you did point out that they \-\--. How long \-\-- out
here with you \-\--?

JOE ALLBAUGH: I didn't say that.

DON IMUS: I know you'd have a lot to do.

JOE ALLBAUGH: Get me into trouble.

DON IMUS: I know you have a lot to do. Thank you very much. Thanks for
all you've done, and all your folks. Tell the President we said "Hi".

JOE ALLBAUGH: I shall. He's a great individual. Thanks for having me. I
would ask the Americans not to forget about those individuals that we
\_\_\_ And those people who are putting themselves in harms way as we
speak right now. They are true heroes. \_\_\_\_ Those folks down there,
they are real heroes.

DON IMUS: Joe Allbaugh, who is the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, FEMA. 18 now until the hour.