Aboard Air Force One

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Aboard Air Force One, en route to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar:

Pres. Bush boarded the plane in a steady rain. He was wearing a suit and tie.

Fran Townsend, the president’s homeland security advisor, said aboard Air Force One that the past few days had shown “disaster response exactly the way it should be.”

She said that although such disasters are primarily local events, the federal role is to support local and state governments, the federal government had been “leaning forward, proactive.”

She said that the federal government acted within an hour on the governor’s request for assistance on Monday night, and that FEMA launched its individual assistance program “before the sun came up on Wednesday.”

Reciting statistics that she said were likely outdated even as she spoke, She said that the fire had consumed 427,000 acres, 2,205 structures and produced one death—and possibly three-and 38 injuries. She said that the evacuation of 321,000 people was the largest in the state.

She said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had deployed 2,500 firefighters, and had approved a disaster food stamp program in San Diego.

The FBI and ATF were assisting arson investigators, Townsend said.

She said that the Defense Department had provided 214 active duty personnel, 72 civilians, 2,492 National Guard troops, for firefighting and security duties. She said an additional 17,295 National Guard troops were available. In addition, 28 helicopters and 14 fixed-wing aircraft had been provided, and C-130s had made five sorties on firefighting drops.

She said that while weather conditions seemed to be turning, it was “too soon” to say that a corner had been turned. Until the weather changes, she said, an air assault on the fire was not effective, either because chemicals and water would evaporate, or couldn’t be directed onto the fires.

Bush brought with him Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Reps. Elton Gallegly, Ken Calvert, Bob Filner and David Dreier. He was scheduled to be joined on the ground by the governor, and Reps. Brian Bilbray, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa.

Rep. David Drier (R-San Dimas) on the post-Katrina period: “It was not an easy time. There was no doubt about that—the finger-pointing and all that.”

Drier compared the support given evacuees in California with the needs demonstrated by the victims of Katrina. He said that school bands performed for evacuees, acupuncturists offered their services, and volunteers in general were being turned away, their numbers greater than the need.

“You wouldn’t believe the number of people being turned away, he said, adding: “It sends out a different message” than that of Katrina’s victims holding up signs toward passing aircraft pleading for help.

“The state is regularly ready to deal with crises,” he said, noting that the state had to be ready to handle mudslides, fires and earthquakes.

He also noted that Bush had called the governor before Schwarzenegger asked for help on Monday. For Bush, he said, “that was a very good, positive thing.”

As if portraying the governor in his Hollywood days, Drier said that in a phone call with Schwarzenegger on Wednesday evening, the former action hero said “action, action, action. I want more action.” He aped the Austrian-born governor’s famous accent.

-- James Gerstenzang