U.S. President Barack Obama used the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina to pledge a visit to New Orleans by the end of the year and to showcase the new administration's disaster preparedness efforts. "On this day, we commemorate a tragedy that befell our people. But we also remember that with every tragedy comes the chance of renewal," he said in his Saturday radio address. "It is a quintessentially American notion — that adversity can give birth to hope, and that the lessons of the past hold the key to a better future," the President said. “Together, we can ensure that the legacy of a terrible storm is a country that is safer and more prepared for the challenges that may come." This weekend marks the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of the Gulf Coast and the Saturday morning address followed the New Orleans Times Picayune calling in a front-page editorial for Mr. Obama to visit the region. In the address, Mr. Obama touted the work of his 8-month-old administration along the gulf and noted 11 of his Cabinet members have toured the region. "I'm looking forward to going to New Orleans later this year," he added. Mr. Obama said "none of us can forget" how the storm ravaged the Gulf Coast and the lives lost and homes uprooted four years ago. "As we remember all that was lost, we must take stock of the work being done on recovery, while preparing for future disasters," he said. The President said Katrina prompted Americans to question "whether government could fulfill its responsibility to respond in a crisis, or contribute to a recovery that covered parts of four states." "As we rebuild and recover, we must also learn the lessons of Katrina, so that our nation is more protected and resilient in the face of disaster," Mr. Obama said. "And across the country, that means improving coordination among different agencies, modernizing our emergency communications, and helping families plan for a crisis."
