going to help. >> let's talk it over with cnn contributor dave halstead. he's a former director of the florida division of emergency management. dave, nice to have you on. how did the president do today? >> well, i think he said the right things. the most important thing he did though was sign that major disaster declaration which releases funds into the state. there's two primary categories, one is state assistance and public assistance. it will bring it into the states and counties and get everything back up and running. right now we're in the life sustaining mode. you saw him at places where citizens are being fed. water is being delivered. fema has millions and millions of meals en route to florida, en route to the impacted areas. millions of gallons of drinking water. life sustaining is the issue now. it's important that he shows his face, that of the vice president to show how concerned they are