A natural disaster of unprecedented proportions has struck the Gulf Coast area of the United States. Hardest hit are the people of Louisiana - my boyhood state - along with the people of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.  The scale of the destruction and the human suffering is vast.

Tens of thousands of Americans need help. Emergency personnel are responding to the urgent needs of saving lives, rescuing stranded people, and supplying food, water, shelter and medical attention to those who have lost so much. Over the longer term, much more assistance will be needed as we work to rebuild cities and restore people’s livelihoods. We face a tremendous challenge in the days, months and years ahead.

On behalf of the United States Embassy and all its employees, I want to thank President Zapatero, Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos and the government of Spain and the Autonomous Communities, for the help they have offered us. Also to the many Spanish political, business and social leaders who have expressed their condolences and support and who have offered us their help. I also want to thank the Spanish people for the many, many messages and phone calls we have received sharing with us their heartfelt sympathy and their solidarity with the American people in this time of our great need.

The United States is a large and wealthy country, and of course we have many resources to respond to this terrible human tragedy – but we also need and appreciate every expression of support and every offer of help from our friends around the world.

Many Spanish citizens have asked how they can help. I encourage everyone who would like to help to make a generous contribution to the American Red Cross or other humanitarian organizations working to help the people of the Gulf Coast region.

In the name of my country and its people, I thank you for your prayers and your help. God bless you, and may God bless all those people affected by this historic calamity.

September 6, 2005

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