These past few weeks have left us all
with a profound sense of humility in the face of nature's
destructive power.
For years, we operated under the belief
that we could continue consuming our planet's natural resources
without consequence.
We were wrong.
I was wrong.
The fact that my first address to you
comes from a consulate on foreign soil is a testament to our changed reality.
Not only Americans but people all around the globe
are now guests in the nations we once called The Third World.
In our time of need,
they have taken us in and sheltered us.
And I am deeply grateful
for their hospitality.
We mourn the loss of a spirited leader
whose courageous order to evacuate.
For days, we've despaired
about the fate of the people who are trapped in the North.
Today, there is cause for hope.
Only a few hours ago, I received word
that a small group of people survived in New York City
against all odds...
and in the face
of tremendous adversity.
I've ordered an immediate
search-and-rescue mission to bring them home
and to look for more survivors.