Russ Knocke Quotations

There are certain evacuees who have been rescued from their nightmarish scenarios, and they have been taken to certain airports where they are waiting for airlifts and people are able to receive them, ... We are working more closely with state and local officials to develop a comprehensive plan while all the while airlifts from the New Orleans airport have continued.

A this time there are no plans to adjust the terror alert level.

There are no plans to raise the threat level at this time. These are rumors.

It didn't happen at the same time at all the different places.

It's certainly not the case that the senior positions are rewards for political loyalty. There is experience in their background relevant for doing their jobs, whether in policy or management.

We are encouraging those states that want to work with us.

We're talking about an ultra-catastrophe, where the need is such that the military's training and assets would meet an immediate need in support of Homeland Security coordination of the federal government's responsibility and recovery efforts,

We are not talking about DOD taking over federal response efforts to a catastrophe from start to finish,

We were already operating under the National Response Plan.

I think we have been very, very clear. The focus, without hesitation, is on risk management. Homeland Security grants are now based on risk instead of spreading a little out for everyone.