Press Releases 2005

On September 3, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made the following statement on Hurricane Katrina:

On behalf of the employees of the State Department, our hearts and prayers go out to every citizen who has been affected by Hurricane Katrina. I want every American to know that their government is doing everything it can to help get relief to those in need as quickly as possible. Recently, we have seen the American people respond
generously to help others around the globe during their times of distress, such as during the recent tsunami. Today, we are seeing a similar urgent, warm and compassionate reaction from the international community in response to Hurricane Katrina.

I want to express the heartfelt thanks of the President, the United States government and all Americans, to the leaders and citizens of the many nations and international organizations that have already offered kind and generous support. Organizations like the United Nations, NATO, the Organization of American States, the European Union, and others are showing their solidarity with us during this time.

Many private citizens across the globe also want to donate their personal funds to help. As I've talked with my counterparts around the world, I have encouraged them to urge their citizens to donate Hurricane Katrina relief through the Red Cross.

We are doing everything we can to help those in need here at home in America and we are also working closely with other governments to help them locate and assist their citizens.

On a personal note, as you know, my family is from Alabama. My father was born and raised in Louisiana. The pictures are pictures that I, in many cases, know well. And I just want to say to the people of the hard-hit gulf region that my personal prayers and thoughts, and the prayers and thoughts of people around the world, are with them.