STUART — White House officials on Wednesday said President George W. Bush was expected to arrive in Stuart Thursday morning as part of his tour of areas ravaged by Hurricane Jeanne.
"The President will travel via helicopter to Stuart tomorrow (Thursday) to visit relief efforts in response to the hurricane (Jeanne) damage in Stuart," White House spokesman Taylor Gross said. "He will travel from Miami and land in Stuart and visit relief efforts ... probably mid-morning."
Gross said specific details about the president's visit, such as what areas he's expected to tour or exactly when he'll arrive from Miami, were still being worked out.
On Sunday, Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, visited Martin County's emergency operation center and told officials that Treasure Coast counties suffered the brunt of damage delivered by Jeanne, a Category 3 storm that made landfall near Stuart.
On Sept. 8, after Hurricane Frances made landfall in almost the same spot, President Bush toured Fort Pierce and other parts of the hurricane-ravaged Treasure Coast with his brother and Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.
At the Convoy of Hope distribution center on Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce, President Bush asked residents how they were faring as he helped load ice, bottled water and food into hurricane victims' cars.
He also visited Florida on Aug. 15 to inspect damage from Hurricane Charley and met with emergency aid workers in Miami on Aug. 27.
After his visit to Stuart, President Bush is expected to return to Miami by helicopter to participate in a presidential debate with U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry being broadcast live from the Coconut Grove Expo Center, according to a White House advisory.
