From: clarinews@clarinet.com (STEVE HEILBRONNER)
Newsgroups: biz.clarinet.sample,clari.news.disaster,clari.news.gov.usa,clari.news.weather,clari.local.florida
Subject: Bush tells Louisiana storm victims: ``I care''
Keywords: severe weather, trouble, usa federal, government, general weather,
	weather
Date: 26 Aug 92 23:45:13 GMT
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Note: (deleting repetitive material)
 (previous Lafayette)


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	NEW IBERIA, La. (UPI) -- President Bush visited towns and
neighborhoods devastated Wednesday by Hurricane Andrew, telling
residents ``I care'' about them and their losses.
	The president, wearing khakis and a rain jacket, was on his second
tour of areas savaged by the hurricane since Monday. Hurricane Andrew
slammed though South Florida on Monday and the president promptly
arrived to inspect the damage -- far worse than in Louisiana -- and
promise federal aid. An initial $78 million was being provided for the
relief and rebuilding effort in Louisiana.
	Bush said he hoped his visit shows that ``I care.''
	The president visited a neighborhood about 30 miles from the coast
that was in the line of the hurricane. He stopped his motorcade to talk
briefly with a family whose house had been spared from the damage that
devastated many of their neighbors.
	Dave Cavalier, a Democrat, who said he intended to vote for Arkansas
Gov. Bill Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, in November,
but he praised Bush for coming to Louisiana.
	``It shows someone is concerned even in a political period. It means
something,'' Cavalier said.
	Bush, accompanied by Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, a Democrat, drove
through water-drenched streets.
	``We don't know what the price tags are yet'' to rebuild the area,
Bush said. ``Nobody knows. We'll do what we must do to fulfill the
federal obligation.''
	The president denied that his visit, even as the storm pelted the
region with rain, was politically motivated.
	``I think it shows that I care. This is my job.''
	Bush, a strong advocate of volunteerism, urged Louisiana and Florida
residents to help one another.
	``This is big,'' he said. ``People should help their neighbors.
People need to help those who are less fortunate. It's not just what the
federal government can do.''
	Edwards praised Bush's appearance, saying ``What I've heard so far
could not be more encouraging.''
	Louisiana was not as hard hit as Florida, but many streets were
flooded, telephone poles downed and trees uprooted. Much of the bayou
country sugar cane crop was under water.
	The president's C-9 plane touched down at Lafayette Regional Airport
in a steady downpour with blustery winds.
	Accompanied by Transportation Secretary Andrew Card, who will head a
task force to coordinate federal relief efforts, and a group of
congressmen, Bush went by motorcade to the storm ravaged areas.
	At Lafayette, Bush visited the Cajun Dome at the University of
Southwestern Louisiana that is being used to house about 2,000 homeless
victims.
	``What I did see makes me think that we do absolutely everthing we
can to ease the suffering of Louisiana,'' Bush said.
	Rep. W.J. ``Billy'' Tauzin, D-La. was asked if Bush's trip would be
seen as ``political'' and replied:
	``I'm a Democrat and I can say he will be received with great
appreciation. The fact that the chief executive broke from his schedule
and comes down here, almost in the middle of the disaster, to show his
concern and support for the people will be greatly appreciated and I
hope will not be regarded as anything political.''
	In a statement at the White House before he departed, Bush said ``the
destruction from this storm goes beyond anything we've known in recent
years. Damage is in the billions of dollars and deaths already in double
digits.''
	Bush announced he is ``making available today $10 million to create
5,000 short-term jobs for Floridians to clean up and restore public
services in the aftermath of this hurricane.''
	He said the $10 million will be administered by Florida Gov. Lawton
Chiles and ``may be used to employ workers left without jobs by the
hurricane.''
	``We will be assessing similar needs'' in Louisiana, Bush said.
	The president appealed to the private sector ``to help in every way
possible.''
	``This disaster threatens to overwhelm the resources of all public
and private institutions and so we ust all chip in and help.''
	Bush has already declared both Florida and Louisiana as disaster
areas, making the states eliible for federal assistance.
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