Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, both Georgia Republicans, applauded the White House's quick response to their calls for aid. Isakson further thanked Biden for spending extra time consoling victims present at the civic center.This wasn't the first time that republicans had praise for FEMA. Last month, Bobby Jindal also had some kind words for FEMA. It appears that Craig Fugate, the new FEMA chief, is competent.
"Out of every disaster, we have the opportunity for something good to come about," Chambliss said. "Out of this, we're going to become a stronger community."
Janet Napolitano and Fugate led the efforts and Biden added his personal touch:
Biden took a half-hour helicopter tour of the area before the news conference. He said he saw flooded homes, an amusement park under water and trees with watermarks 16 feet up their trunks.
There will no "bureaucratic stalling and shuffling" as the federal government deals first with emergencies before making longer-term assessments of personal losses as well as damage to the communities' infrastructure, he said.
"We're going to have people come see you," he said. "This is not going to happen overnight. This is not going to happen tomorrow, but it's going to happen."
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the federal government will provide rental, housing and small business assistance. Craig Fugate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, vowed to rebuild the damaged communities with future hazard mitigation in mind -- "so next time there's a flood, it doesn't get damaged."
Biden, who before speaking doled out hugs to disaster victims and posed for personal pictures, stayed at the Cobb County Civic Center well past the time allotted on his itinerary. CNN
