Posted on 09/04/2005 10:18:30 AM PDT by one more state
Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005 12:47 p.m. EDT Gov. Kathleen Blanco: No State of Emergency
Though her state has been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and thousands are believed dead in New Orleans, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco has yet to declare a state of emergency and refuses to cede authority over rescue efforts to the federal government.
"Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans," the Washington Post reported in Sunday editions.
Story Continues Below
Gov. Blanco's office rejected the request, the paper said - concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. The Louisiana Democrat has also failed to declare a state of emergency - in marked contrast to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who both issued emergency declarations before Hurricane Katrina struck.
State and federal officials also told the Post that Gov. Blanco did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday - more than 24 hours after breaches in New Orleans levee system had flooded the city and killed thousands.
Yep. They ordered the Red Cross to belay entering NOLA too. And on teevee, they say that civil order is "okay," but to the relief agencies, they say "there is civil unrest in there, and we can't permit you to enter."
They say the FEMA is making those calls, but FEMA is *them* at this phase, not the feds.
That is not a Blanco statement, that is the blogger's commentary.
They're whispering thousands....it's a long time out for clearing stating the numbers; I keep reading that govt. officials/coroners don't want to report the numbers.....it's just incredibly sad, though, how many people have been killed, are homeless....it's unbelievable.
I think that you may be right, she has not allowed the Louisiana to be declared a national disaster area, which would open the door for federal assistance.
My husband will be headed down to the area as a volunteer in the oil spill clean up effort and I hope that he doesn't get sent to NOLA and have to be directed by their state officials. That would be a nightmare.
GOVERNOR BLANCO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY BATON ROUGE, LA--Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today issued Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, declaring a state of emergency for the state Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina poses an imminent threat, carrying severe storms, high winds, and torrential rain that may cause flooding and damage to private property and public facilities, and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the state of Louisiana The state of emergency extends from Friday, August 26, 2005, through Sunday, September 25, 2005, unless terminated sooner.
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973
and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declared States of Emergency Friday. In Louisiana, New Orleans is of particular concern because much of that city lies below sea level.
Every declaration of emergency has some specific particular effect. There could be a helath emergency without a disaster. The health emergency waives the usual rules resticting the practice of medicine in LA, and has no other effect.
That's a Good One!
The local pols appear to be idiots and will not do the right thing.
It was declared a national disaster, by President Bush, before the hurricane hit. What Blanco is doing is hanging on to control of the relief effort.
Hanging onto that control would be fine, if the state was up to the task.
On the contrary...... she's acting in a coldly calculated, rational way -- if she's part of a criminal conspiracy that embezzled FED funds that were previously provided for EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS under the auspices of anti-Terror initiatives that spread LOTS of FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS around right after 9/11.
I have no hard evidence to back up this hypothesis, but it's the only thing other than mental illness and stupidity to explain the otherwise ineplicable behavoir of both the Mayor of NO and the Governess of LA.
Sorry. I read it as a quote. Will be more careful in the future.
So what you are saying is, the State of Louisiana is in charge and legally responsible for ALL efforts of rescue, emergency health matters and shelters, security, evac and so forth to date. Not FEMA? I am just asking for a LEGAL clarification between state and federal.
After all the leadership shown by other state and local officials during disasters, the public expects Blanco, Nagin, and their staffs to take the lead on disaster recovery. It's obvious to the public that Blanco & Nagin are falling far below the high standard set by Rudy Giuliana, George Pataki, Jeb Bush, and others. No amount of spinning and Fed-bashing will change that perception by the public.
Put the blame where it belongs, their source.
Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting(still no state of emergency in LA) ^
I just skimmed...but what I didn't read was her asking for any help in that document to provide any help with maintaining law and order.
IF I'm reading correctly, she just asked for money and provisions. But then is complaining because the provisions and personnel were restricted from getting there in part because of lawless thugs?
Or did my eyes glaze over as I was reading through the legalese.
KBB 2005-24 EMERGENCY OCCUPATION OF HOTEL AND MOTEL ROOMS
September 1, 2005
KBB 2005-25 EMERGENCY EVACUATION BY BUSES
September 2,2005
KBB 2005-26 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATION
September 2,2005
KBB 2005-31 EMERGENCY EVACUATION BY BUSES
September 1, 2005
Sorry, that should read Rudy Giuliani in post 116.
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