If a place is "Declared a State of Emergency, "

[Tim4319]

does the Federal Government take control of that area? If so, how is it the local government fault that food and water did not reach the displaced Americans? Because * had "Declared a State of Emergency" prior to Katrina hitting the Gulf Coast.

[Kagemusha]

1. I'm still waiting for a complete assessment of that, but..

I heard that Bush had to declare some sort of *national* emergency, that is, a nationwide state of emergency, in order to take direct command of National Guard troops, for instance...

What I have read last night, though, is that the Justice Dept. and Pentagon lawyers fighting it out over this issue in the end decided not to press higher-ups, Bush included, for such a step, because they were too afraid of being blamed (not really legally - though some would try - but politically, which the Pentagon really cares about - this is America, land of the Congressional budget, not Iraq) for federal or federalized troops shooting looters in the city of New Orleans.

So conclusion: Could they have? Yes. Did they want to? NO.

[scarletwoman]

2. Here is the official presidential declaration of state of emergency:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 27, 2005

Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA [phone].

Empirical evidence is always useful for grounding speculation in reality. Notice that this document mandates that FEMA is authorized to "coordinate all disaster relief efforts".

sw

[Tim4319]

3. Let me get this straight!

This was declared on 8/26. The hurricane hit on 8/29. Now, from the point of declaration, on 8/26, FEMA is responsible for the food and water delivery. If this is the case, how is this the local governments responsibility when that responsibility was taken from them?