declaration of a state of emergency with this federal declaration of a state of emergency (below), the same day Gov. Blanco informed them in writing of the impending crisis, 2 days before the storm hit. The Director of the National Hurricane Center briefed the heads of FEMA and DHS of the potential destructiveness of Katrina before the storm arrived, and the scenario of the levees being topped was outlined for them.
They can't claim they didn't know what was up. But Bush was vacationing, and not to be disturbed with the needs of non-Republican, non-white constituents. That was the breakdown that led to a bureaucratically-magnified disaster. Bush's inattention and lack of concern, and his FU-attitude which is shared among his crony-appointees, is the bureaucratic blockage that stood in the way of timely rescue and repairs.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 27, 2005
Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for LouisianaThe President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.