Okay, so this particular sentence:
"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,..."
This sentence specifically asks for help to save lives.
Are you saying she was just not clear enough in what kind of help to save lives? That it was still just asking for money to save lives?
Just trying to get this.....
I am specifically requesting:Money can save lives. Police/armed reinforcement can save lives. Helicopeter and boat rescue can save lives. Supplies of food, clothing and shlter can save lives. Communications equipment can save lives. Cleanup is a form of assistance.
emergency protective measures [ this is a term of art ],
direct Federal Assistance [ this is a term of art ]
The state is equipped to provide ALL of those functions, and usually coordinates all effort, even if compensated by federal monies afterwards.
The governor did not give the Federal government authority.
Are you saying she was just not clear enough in what kind of help to save lives? That it was still just asking for money to save lives?
Basically, yes. The effort needs to be specifically coordinated, and there are all sorts of issues, such as who calls the shots, and who holds the risk of legal liability. The primary responsibility for coordination is at the state level.
"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,..."This sentence specifically asks for help to save lives.
Are you saying she was just not clear enough in what kind of help to save lives? That it was still just asking for money to save lives?
If I can jump in here, you can check the "Enclosure A" to the request and you will find a list of the specific items requested and how Gov Blanco wanted to allocate the money she was asking for. Here it is in full:
ENCLOSURE A TO EMERGENCY REQUESTIt's pretty obvious from reading this that she was requesting specific monetary assistance only. Note that $0 is to go "Coordination" and $0 is to go to "Distribution of emergency supplies" -- the two things people are claiming FEMA did not provide. Under the terms of the Stafford Act, if she did not request it, she wouldn't have received it. The part where she is requesting "Emergency Protective Measures" is broken out in the list and is budgeted at $9,000,000. You say that "This sentence specifically asks for help to save lives" but as you can see both "Coordination" and "Distribution of emergency supplies" are not a part of "Emergency Protective Measures."
Estimated requirements for other Federal agency programs:
• Department of Social Services (DSS): Opening (3) Special Need Shelters (SNS) and establishing (3) on Standby. Costs estimated at $500,000 per week for each in operation.
• Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH): Opening (3) Shelters and establishing (3) on Standby. Costs estimated at $500,000 per week for each in operation.
• Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP): Providing generators and support staff for SNS and Public Shelters. Costs estimated to range from $250,000-$500,000 to support (6) Shelter generator operations.
• Louisiana State Police (LSP): Costs to support evacuations - $300,000 for a non-direct landfall.
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF): Costs to support evacuations - $200,000 for a non-direct landfall.
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD): Costs to support evacuations - $2,000,000 for a non-direct landfall.
Totals: $ 9,000,000
Estimated Requirements for assistance under the Stafford Act:
Coordination: $0
Technical and advisory assistance: $0
Debris removal: $0
Emergency protective measures: $ 9,000,000
Individuals and Households Program (IHP): $0
Distribution of emergency supplies: $0
Other (specify): $0
Totals: $ 9,000,000
Grand Total: $ 9,000,000