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It [the DHS National Response Plan] is on the DHS web site. All of your questions are plainly addressed. Their are circumstances in which the Feds can take a 'proactive' approach to responding i.e. doing it on their own. Based on the criteria in the document, there can hardly be any doubt that this qualifies. And the document specifically includes natural disasters within its scope.

For others following the discussion within a thread, here is a link to the DHS National Response Plan ...

http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_FullText.pdf

You are persistly refusing to particularly cite support for your position, and various other summaries are contrary to your position. Therefore, I believe the assertion that FEMA has the right to become or to control first responder, absent expressed state request, is incorrect.

For the benefit of other readers, page 357 of the PDF starts an annex that is referred to as "Catastophic Incident Annex". Page 360 starts a summary of the concept of operations. The summary is full of "terms of art," words that do not have their natural meaning, or that have indefinite meaning (e.g., "federal assistance" is indefinite). Nowehre do I see a phrase that indicates the Feds can countermand a state "order" during the cooperation phase.

You can spin the lingo in the plan all you want. I think your conclusion is incorrect.

January 06, 2005 Contact: Elissa Davidson
(202) 224-4751
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
SENATOR COLLINS' STATEMENT ON DHS NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN
Washington, DC - Senator Susan Collins today said she was encouraged that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has completed a National Response Plan to establish a unified and standardized approach across the country for protecting citizens and managing homeland security incidents. The plan sets forth how the federal government agencies would coordinate with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during threats or acts of terrorism, major natural disasters, or man-made emergencies.
"The National Response Plan integrates disparate law enforcement and homeland security departments into one team. It helps to coordinate local police, fire, and rescue units with state and federal emergency management agencies, to ensure that all responders are working together in the case of a disaster or terrorist attack," said Senator Collins.
"This plan lays the groundwork for first responders and state and federal homeland security teams to operate off a common script in planning for and reacting to emergencies. As the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I will examine the implementation of the plan to ensure its success and continued improvement to counter threats."
The National Response Plan establishes standardized training, organization, and communications procedures through a National Incident Management System, and clearly identifies authority and leadership responsibilities among federal, state, and local agencies. Under the plan, first responders maintain responsibility for incident management at the local level. For those events that rise to the level of an Incident of National Significance, the Department of Homeland Security would provide operational and/or resource coordination to provide federal support to on-scene incident command structures.
The National Response Plan was developed by teams of experts from federal departments and agencies, state, local, and tribal officials, incident response and private sector committees from around the nation.
"Secretary Tom Ridge has shown great leadership in preparing the country react quicker and more efficiently in national emergencies," said Senator Collins. "The completion this project was a top priority for Secretary Ridge. He should be commended both for finishing such a massive effort before leaving public service, as well as, for his commitment to involve all stakeholders in this process."
For more information about the National Response Plan, first responders and incident management authorities may call 1-800-368-6498. Interested citizens may view and download a PDF copy of the National Response Plan online at http://www.dhs.gov/nationalresponseplan. Information on FEMA National Response Plan training courses is available through links at the above website.
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs