President Barack Obama Says He Won't Forget New Orleans

In a brief speech at the University of New Orleans, US President Barack Obama promised the people of New Orleans that government incompetence in dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina will not be allowed under his watch.

US President Barack Obama has vowed not to forget the devastation brought about by hurricane Katrina to the people of New Orleans. Obama was in New Orleans Thursday, his first visit to the Louisianian city as US president. In a brief speech at the University of New Orleans, Obama said that his administration has succeeded in reducing the number of people who are still in temporary accommodation four years after hurricane Katrina inundated a large part of New Orleans. The president also said that his government is helping to rebuild roads and bridges damaged by hurricane Katrina's fury. Inquirer.net reports:

Facing claims his stay of less than four hours gave short shrift to pledges to New Orleans he made as a candidate, Obama vowed not to repeat the "failure of government" seen after Hurricane Katrina lashed the city in 2005.

"The government was not adequately prepared, and did not adequately respond," Obama said, just over four years after the Katrina's storm surge engulfed 80 percent of the city, leaving tens of thousands homeless.

Obama promised that government incompetence and indifference in addressing the devastating effects of Katrina will not be allowed under his watch. "We will not forget about the Gulf Coast. Together we will rebuild this region and we will build it stronger than before." Obama said as he talked about a series of actions his administration has taken including the appointment of competent officials and the release of $1.5 billion in funding that he said has been caught up in government red tape. Since last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has paid out more than $800 million for infrastructure repairs. Despite the restoration efforts, close to 65,000 properties have remained unoccupied.