Article published in the daily newspaper "Postimees" on September 16, 2005

A Day of Remembrance

U.S. Ambassador Aldona Wos, MD

To honor the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush declared today, September 16, a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. As President Bush stated in his proclamation, “Our Nation is united in compassion for the victims and in resolve to overcome the tremendous loss that has come to America.” It is my sincere hope that Estonians will also join with us by taking a moment from their day to remember those lives lost and those lives forever altered as a result of Katrina's horrible devastation.

The American government has mobilized at every level – federal, state and local – to help our citizens. Help from private individuals and organizations has poured into the region. Our government can always do better – and President Bush has said he will investigate the early response to the hurricane to learn what we need to improve. But the U.S. Government's response has been massive, on a scale never been seen before.

Over 71,000 U.S. Government personnel – including 22,000 active duty troops, 43,000 National Guardsmen, 50 helicopters, and 20 Navy ships – are deployed in and around the states of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi to help with hurricane recovery efforts. In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, the U.S. Armed Forces – working together with emergency response teams – rescued over 48,500 people in immediate danger of losing their lives. Almost 250,000 evacuees are still housed in more than 500 shelters across 22 states. Slowly but surely, the U.S. Government is working to move everyone in a shelter to temporary housing. The sheer scale of the disaster means that it will be some time before life in the Gulf Coast states gets back to normal. The situation on the ground remains dynamic and the U.S. Government's emergency response authorities continue to determine what is required most urgently to meet the immediate needs of those suffering from the hurricane's impact. “The tasks before us are enormous,” President Bush stated, “but so is the heart of America. We will continue to comfort and care for the survivors.”

The terrible images of Hurricane Katrina have shaken people across America and around the world. Hurricane Katrina devastated the entire population of the Gulf Coast in three states – the destruction spanned an area over than four times the size of Estonia. Some of the most painful scenes of devastation focused on the poor, the elderly, the handicapped, and the many families with young children in New Orleans. The storm threatened the lives and destroyed the property of rich and poor alike – but the plight of the less fortunate is particularly stark. Unfortunately, many New Orleans citizens were not able or did not want to evacuate and thus were disproportionately affected by the storm.

President Bush and all Americans care deeply about the plight of all our citizens, regardless of race or income. For anyone to suggest that the U.S. government's response to the hurricane was based on race or income is simply wrong. America's rich diversity is a strength that we celebrate. Americans are generous towards one another as we are generous towards others in need around the world. We are seeing that generosity all around our country now. As President Bush vowed, the U.S. Government is "not going to rest until every life can be saved; until families are reconnected; until this recovery is complete."

A few criminals have threatened and caused violence in the hurricane region. They are a very small fraction of the population. Police and federal forces have established order. The vast majority of citizens are not only peaceful but are helping one another in incredibly difficult circumstances. To quote President Bush, “Americans are reaching out to those who suffered by opening their hearts, homes, and communities. Their actions demonstrate the greatest compassion one person may show to another: to love your neighbor as yourself.”

During her meeting with Estonian Foreign Minister Paet, Secretary of State Rice thanked Estonia for its generous offer to help those who suffered from Hurricane Katrina. I would also like to thank not just the Estonian Government but also the Estonian people who have contributed to the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort through both the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) and the Estonian Red Cross. This generous outpouring from Estonia – as well as from 116 other countries around the world – provides both practical help and moral support which mean a great deal to the victims of this terrible natural disaster and to all Americans. The American people have a long tradition of extending a hand to those in need around the world. Now, in our time of need, we are deeply touched to see the response of people from every corner of the world.

I will be visiting the Estonian Red Cross next week to thank them in person for their efforts on behalf of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who has helped. Thank you.