Republicat Lessons We Will Learn from New Orleans

[wolf]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It wasn't great for the Indonesian Tsunami, and it's worse for an event within our borders for which we had warning, and which had already been declared a national emergency.

It was still up to the Governor of the State of Louisiana to ask for the help from FEMA. They can't just go in, disaster declaration or not.

The declaration frees the resources ... when they are requested. Although we function as one country, each US state is actually it's own little independent entity. We often forget that.

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by wolf

It was still up to the Governor of the State of Louisiana to ask for the help from FEMA. They can't just go in, disaster declaration or not.

The declaration frees the resources ... when they are requested. Although we function as one country, each US state is actually it's own little independent entity. We often forget that.

She did ask, on August 27, in a very detailed letter. A small snipet from her letter on nola.com:

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. I am specifically requesting emergency protective measures, direct Federal Assistance, Individual and Household Program (IHP) assistance, Special Needs Program assistance, and debris removal.

Gov. Blanco's request is also documented on whitehouse.gov.