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March 28, 2005, 7:57PM
U.S. reacts quickly to provide aid, assistance Associated Press WASHINGTON — American diplomatic, geological and oceanic officials moved swiftly today to provide aid and planning assistance when a great earthquake struck near Indonesia. President Bush, on Air Force One returning from Texas to the White House, was briefed on the major earthquake off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island. The quake hit less than an hour before his plane lifted off from Texas, where he had celebrated Easter with his family. Just three months after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that killed thousands, the new tremor struck in the same general area and raised fears of another great wave. Following the December 26 tsunami officials were critical of U.S. preparedness for such an event, calling for better warning systems. "The president has been briefed on the earthquake and we are monitoring the situation," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters on Bush's plane. When today's quake struck, the U.S. Geological Survey moved quickly to provide details via the Internet and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a warning that the quake has the potential to threaten a devastating wave. People within about 600 miles of the epicenter of today's earthquake near Indonesia should consider evacuating to higher ground, NOAA's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin. The center does not have tide gauges in the Indian Ocean and said it does not know whether a wave was generated, but said the quake "has the potential to generate a widely destructive tsunami in the ocean or seas." The State Department said that it had alerted all of its posts in the region. "Where we are right now is having alerted all our posts, been in contact with all our posts, putting ourselves in battle mode to be in a position where we can know what's going on and act appropriately if and when it's necessary," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters. He said embassy officials in the area have been asking host governments to inquire about any casualties to permit an early U.S. response if the situation calls for it. Ereli also said there had been no reports of casualties as of this afternoon, Washington time. Pat McCrummen, a spokesman for the American Red Cross in Washington, said the agency confirmed that its workers involved in the relief effort in Indonesia were OK following the latest earthquake. He said Red Cross officials are awaiting further developments before initiating any new relief effort. "We still have people over there assisting from the first one, and they will be our first line of defense, once we know what kind of damage there is," he said. Bush recently sent his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and former President Clinton on a mission to visit areas hardest hit by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 175,000 people in 12 Indian Ocean nations. The elder Bush and Clinton are heading up an effort, lead by Bush, to raise funds from private sources to assist the victims of the December tsunami. ADVERTISEMENT Return to top
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After facing criticism for being slow to act and initially giving too little after the December 26 Indonesian earthquake and tsunami, the United States government was quick to act when a massive earthquake hit Indonesia again March 28. U.S. State Department Adam Ereli said under orders of President George W. Bush, American embassy officials have been in contact with both Indonesia officials and the International Red Cross to coordinate international relief efforts and other foreign aid.

The two former U.S. presidents, Bill Clinton and the current president's father, George H.W. Bush, already are heading up U.S. aid efforts in the region as the result of the last major temblor. "We still have people over there assisting from the first one, and they will be our first line of defense, once we know what kind of damage there is," Pat McCrummen, spokesman for the American Red Cross told the Associated Press.

Although relief officials have been in contact with various governments, no specific pledge amount has been announced (as of 20:51, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)).