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.
It is ABSOLUTE criminal stupidity.
I don't see it here: 2005 Executive Orders
Exactly! I truly believe that while they're all having an emotional breakdown, screaming profanities and blaming the President, the work is getting done by none other than the federal government. The majority of the American people will see it is the local and state officials who have blood on their hands. We can only hope their constituents see that too. The contrast of the performance between LA and other states involved cannot be ignored forever.
You are a great and honest man. I thank you.
and crawfish´s observation:
Purely speculation on my part... but, with pants down around ankles - near Superdome ??
Reports coming out of Superdome that rapes were being perpetrated and that one "rapist" of a young girl was beaten to death by a group in the 'dome when the girl was heard screaming in a restroom and he was caught in the act...
I agree, it looks suspiciously like a hit of some sort but I just reported the caption.
I'm seeing a LA declaration of emergency for 8/27 and a declaration for disaster for 8/29. She's a day late over AL and MS.
I don't see anything else ... yet. Still looking.
Blanco may have declared a state of emergency, but she has done precious little constructive with it.
Same person controlling Sheila Jackson Lee, Ambassador to Mars.
Governor Blanco's letter to President Bush Regarding Hurricane Katrina
I ask that you direct the assigned Federal Coordinating Officer at the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) to co-locate with my Homeland Security and Emergency and Preparedness Office at the Federal Joint Task Force headquarters. This would make the Joint Interagency Operations Center a truly integrated operation.
Mr. President, these actions are essential to ensure unity of effort and a fully coordinated federal, state and local response to this extraordinary natural disaster. I look forward to your favorable response to my request and welcome any comments or suggestions you might have. Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of Louisiana.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Governor
State of Louisiana
I've searched for "Governor Blanco declares state of disaster" as well as "Louisiana declares state of disaster". Both phrases show no declaration of disaster news items or web posts.
I should've known you'd be more on the ball than the Post.
I think you have hit the nail on the head. Her office released a statement saying that she had declared a state of emergency on the 8/26/2005...but it must not have been of the level that permitted Federal intervention. Here is a link to her press release.
Pls. link poll or give results. Thank you.
What exactly would constitute a state of emergency if not this? I really can't believe she would not have issued such an order!
It's Bush's fault?
Bold leadership at its finest?
Failure to follow the state's plan for just such an emergency?
It's an AP poll on this thread.
I haven't found anything either.
FEMA Notice of Fed. Major Disaster LA Katrina
The relevant governing law, the Stafford Act, can be found here -
I do not find any differentiation in levels of declared emergencies, once one exists, nor any subsequent trigger reserved to the state level. The state does have exclusive authority over the Guard and there are limits on Fed use of military personnel to support civilian authorities.
The LA state declaration is here, in PDF -
There have also been 5 LA executive orders related to Katarina, which can be found at the bottom of this page. They related to things like keeping police officers on duty, requesting buses and hotels rooms, and the like.
The democratic party is a coalition of groups that can be counted on for votes. The poor and helpless, and those who fear they soon may be poor are targets of the democrats even though in this crisis it will be the rich who provide the bail out. Look at the donations and companies providing equipment and you see that the wealthy and unaffected are speaking loudly that the democrat plan to keep the poor in their state is just that.
If liberals care? They are the smart ones who realize the path they must take to their political power. They must keep the poor in that state while appearing to do everything to help them. (Sort of like the bilingual languange program that if successful would no longer be needed, so they purposefully are only partly successful and keep kids speaking spanish until eighth grade.)
Am I cynical? You bet, where the democrats and their programs are involved.
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