He issued emergency disaster declarations ahead of the storm. He told people in the region to listen to the warnings of state and local officials. He received multiple briefings from multiple officials. ... He was engaged.

All they have to do is call us and identify themselves as a victim of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and we'll sign them up for services.

I'm glad the weather has changed today. It has been the most challenging disaster we have ever dealt with -not just in this region but in the whole United States.

In the midst of a national disaster of biblical proportions, it is difficult for the American people to participate fully in the selection of the next chief justice, one of the most important positions in our government and the chief protector of our Constitution,

At a purely educational level, we're hoping to show people that this faraway disaster actually has some connections and underlying causes that are not so distant. Such information can empower people to make choices that are aligned with socially and environmentally responsible values that the vast majority of Americans share. In addition, we're hoping that companies who have felt no pressure up to now will take notice.

Quite clearly this is a human disaster of enormous proportions. We have tens and tens of thousands of displaced people across the United States,