Posted on 09/08/2005 8:08:54 AM PDT by chambley1
EXECUTIVE ORDER KBB 05-31 Emergency Evacuation by Buses
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq ., confers upon the governor of the state of Louisiana emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or man-made causes, to ensure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters, and to preserve the lives and property of the citizens of the state of Louisiana; WHEREAS, pursuant to Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, a state of emergency was declared and is currently in effect;
WHEREAS, R.S. 29:724(D)(4) provides that the governor, subject to any applicable requirements for compensation, may commandeer or utilize any private property if she finds it necessary to cope with the disaster or emergency;
WHEREAS, there is an immediate need for mass transportation to move citizens to shelters and other safe locations from disaster areas; and
WHEREAS, given the current exigent circumstances, buses are the most reasonable and practical mode of mass transportation to move our citizens to safety;
NOW THEREFORE I, KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO, Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: Each Superintendent of Education for each school district in Louisiana that remains substantially operational following the passage of Hurricane Katrina shall contact the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 225-925-3916 and provide an inventory of school buses and bus drivers in their district;
SECTION 2: As determined by the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, such buses shall be made available to be used as necessary for the mass transportation of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, accompanying law enforcement personnel, and necessary supplies to from areas of concern to areas of safety;
SECTION 3: The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is hereby authorized to commandeer and utilize such buses for such purposes;
SECTION 4: Each Superintendent of Education for each school district in Louisiana that remains substantially operational following the passage of Hurricane Katrina shall coordinate with local law enforcement agencies and peace officers to ensure that at least one peace officer ride in each bus and at least two marked law enforcement vehicles accompany every ten buses;
SECTION 5: The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness shall make efforts to work with the superintendents and local boards of education to minimize interruption of regular transportation of students;
SECTION 6: R.S. 17:158, relative to parish and city school boards providing free transportation to students, is hereby suspended until Sunday, September 25, 2005, unless reinstated sooner.
SECTION 7: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 31st day of August, 2005.
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Governor
ATTEST BY THE GOVERNOR Al Ater Secretary of State
The Rats won't let facts get in the way.
Add wear a wet suit.
Dear Governor Bimbo:
Please provide the public an inventory of buses ACTUALLY commandeered by The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and used for Katrina purposes.
Or not .....
Folks who're watching the paper trail of this Cluster Foxtrot need to be keepin' a sharp eye out for 'documentation' of the type exposed by Buckhead....
Thanks for posting this.
As a former Coastie, it's the least I can do for my Coastie brethren that are getting shot for saving lives in America!
fyi and ping lists.
America's Coast Guard has all ways been great and unsung heroes.
Since 9/11, they have done an incredible job!
God Bless all Coasties on active duty, and those who served.
Did Nagin ever have authority under R.S. 29:724(D)(4) or any other statute to comandeer the NO school buses for the evacuation or was that an order needed to be given by the governor and wasn't?
Lengthy discussions here:
Is Nagin Really To Blame For The School Bus Non-deployment?
And here (the smoking gun):
Minutes From June 5 Meeting Of Orleans Parish School Board: Using School Buses In Evacs
didn't Blanco state here that Nagin didn't have authority to call for an evacuation?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1479587/posts
On a thread yesterday, a freeper was keeping downloads of these PDFs. He said he has seen changes in them since they started getting posted.
You make the main point. Years of planning and pseudo-prep, and two 'centrist' Demonrats and their minions couldn't put aside their egos and legal advisors to save the LIVES of some of the poor people they claim to care about.
Color me non-surprised.
The segment is over now, but I heard/posted this on the Katrina Updates thread:
Hearing on Tony Snow's radio show that folks behind the scenes in the LA legislature are taking steps to begin impeachement proceedings against Blanco.
I hope that is just the first step. She needs to be charged criminally too.
No recall in Louisana?
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