Reply #5: The National Guard used to handle the domestic emergency assistance.

[JDPriestly]

Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, state National Guard serves as part of the first-line defense for the United States.<3> The state National Guard is divided up into units stationed in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories and operates under their respective state governor or territorial adjutant general.<4> The National Guard may be called up for active duty by state governors or territorial adjutant general to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.<4>

With the consent of state governors, members or units of state National Guard may be appointed or deployed as federally recognized armed force members in active or inactive service.<5><6><7> If so recognized, they become part of the National Guard of the United States.<1> The National Guard of the United States units or members may be called up for federal active duty in times of Congressionally-sanctioned war or national emergency.<4> State National Guard may also be called up for federal service, with the consent of state governors, to repel invasion or suppress rebellion. It can enforce federal laws if the United States or any of its states or territories are invaded or are in danger of invasion by a foreign nation, or if there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the federal government. However unlike the United States Army and other armed forces, the National Guard (under state status) cannot leave American soil. The National Guard can be mobilized if the President is unable with the regular armed forces to execute the laws of the United States.<8> Because both state National Guard and the National Guard of the United States relatively go hand-in-hand, they are both usually referred to as just National Guard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Guard_of_the_Unit...

In California, we often have emergencies and need the National Guard at home in our state, not overseas. The National Guard used to be at least partly under the command of the governor of the state.

I believe though that Eisenhower called out the National Guard to integrate the schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.