BEEVILLE, Texas -- President Bush flew over flood-ravaged Texas Friday, promised victims that they would soon get federal financial relief and then promptly grabbed his gun and began a weekend of quail hunting.
The White House reported that Bush and his party, which included longtime friend Will Farish and Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., had bagged 29 birds.
Bush, dressed in black cowboy boots, flew to Beeville in southeast Texas from Washington. In brief remarks upon his arrival at Chase Naval Air Station, Bush offered storm victims condolences and words of hope.
'I know that this disaster has been a source of great personal tragedy to many here in Texas, a particularly bitter calamity during this holiday season,' Bush said.
Flooding across much of the state the past week has killed at least 15 people, swamped farmland, drowned scores of livestock and caused millions of dollars in damage.
At the request of Gov. Ann Richards, Bush declared a five-county area of southeastern Texas a major disaster Thursday, opening the way for federal relief in the form of grants, low-interest loans, shelter and transportation.
'This will allow victims of the storm to start rebuilding their lives,' said Bush, accompanied by Grant Peterson, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who will oversee relief efforts.
'He's here to make sure that the federal funds are rapidly put into the hands of the families and individuals who need them,' Bush said.
In Austin, Richards thanked the president for the assistance and wished him well on his hunting trip.
Bush rode by motorcade from the air station to Farish's nearby Lazy F ranOj where he planned to spend much of the weekend stalking quail.
'Happy New Year,' read one hand-written sign posted along this route. 'Happy Hunting,' read another.
Later Friday, Bush, in speaking to a town barbecue in Beeville, addressed another financial disaster -- the government's decision to shut down Chase Naval Air Station, one of the community's biggest employers.
The facility, with 3,300 civilian and military workers, is to close next year. It was on the post-Cold War 'hit list' of base closings developed by the Pentagon and approved by Bush.
Bush told the gathering of 3,500 that numerous federal agencies would help the town find new employers. The community is seeking to have the air base taken over by a private aviation company.
'We will do everything we can to help in the transition,' Bush said, adding, 'I know Beeville is going to turn things around.'
Billie Fuller, whose family owns a business in Beeville, said afterward, 'We appreciate the president's support. We'll make it.'
Bush also reminded the gathering that he departs Washington Monday on an 11-day trade mission to Asia aimed at giving a boost to the slumping U.S. economy by opening foreign markets to more American goods.
'I want free trade,' Bush said. 'Free trade means jobs.'
On his flight to Texas, Bush's jet dipped as low as 1,000 feet so he could view some of the areas hit hardest by the floods.
In his brief remarks at Chase Naval Air Station, Bush said he and his wife, Barbara, extend their 'deepest sympathies' to the flood victims.
Bush's federal disaster declaration covered the counties of Bastrop, Bosque, Brown, Dallas and Travis.
Animal-rights activists said they would demonstrate outside of Farish's ranch Saturday, maintaining Bush should shoot the birds with a camera, not a rifle.
The self-proclaimed 'environmental president' is a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, and has made quail hunting at Farish's ranch a post-Christmas tradition.
Dana Forbes, a director with the Fund for Animals, said her group had obtained information that in the past Bush shot birds at the Lazy F that were raised in captivity and then released as 'target practice.'
Gary Foster, a White House spokesman, said all birds the president gets within his sights were born and reared in the wild and that Bush, like other outdoorsmen, 'enjoys the sport within the law.'
