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I have seen some people argue that the National Response Plan (large PDF) gives the authority in the Proactive Federal Response to Catastrophic Events section (page 43 and 44). Part of that section states:

Notification and full coordination with States will occur, but the coordination process must not delay or impede the rapid deployment and use of critical resources. States are urged to notify and coordinate with local governments regarding a proactive Federal response.

I do not agree with this argument completely. I think this plan was implemented as far as rescue operations were concerned. In other cases it might not have been implemented due to the fact that the governor of Louisiana was still in control. Things like moving trucks in to get food to people and chartering buses may have been delayed because the government deferred power to the state of Louisiana (these items were not as time sensitive as picking people off of roofs). Unfortunately, all operations were delayed to a certain extent due to the anarchy on the streets. The Posse Comitatus Act, which would override a DHS directive, would prevent the President from moving in armed forces to police the city. Since the governor was extraordinarily slow to request troops and give them the ability to be armed while on the streets, all other activities were impacted.

Authorities Various Federal statutory authorities and policies provide the basis for Federal actions and activities in the context of domestic incident management. The NRP uses the foundation provided by the Homeland Security Act, HSPD-5, and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) to provide a comprehensive, all-hazards approach to domestic incident management. Nothing in the NRP alters the existing authorities of individual Federal departments and agencies. The NRP does not convey new authorities upon the Secretary of Homeland Security or any other Federal official. Rather, this plan establishes the coordinating structures, Authorities, pg. 5