Re: OT: Political

"John Wheaton" <wheatonjohn@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>"Ed Jay" <Medbj@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message >>
>>>David no one that I know of questioned Gov. Blanco requesting assistance,
>>>and the ket word is assistance. Gov. Blanco was getting assistance and was
>>>in complete comtrol of the FEMA teams that the State used to turn Red
>>>Cross
>>>Disaster Teams away from the Super Bowl. Blanco was in complete control of
>>>teh FEMA mobile hospital that sat unused, and eventually went to
>>>Mississippi
>>>where it would be used.
>>>
>> One of the first Republican 'talking points' was that the blame rests with
>> the governor because she didn't ask for help in a timely manner.
>>
>
>It is clear that she asked for help when she declared a State Of Emergency,
>and after that Federal assets did start arriving. Those assets were under
>Gov. Blanco's control until she signed the Disaster Pact on Wed Night Aug
>31st.
>
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Pursuant to a September 7 request
by Representative John Conyers to review the law and legal accountability
relating to Federal action in response to Hurricane Katrina, the
Congressional Research Service (CRS) issued a report today about whether
the Governor of Louisiana took the necessary and timely steps needed to
secure disaster relief from the federal government. The report
unequivocally concludes that she did.

Congressman Conyers issued the following statement:

"This report closes the book on the Bush Administration's attempts to
evade accountability by shifting the blame to the Governor of Louisiana
for the Administration's tragically sluggish response to Katrina. It
confirms that the Governor did everything she could to secure relief for
the people of Louisiana and the Bush Administration was caught napping at
a critical time."

In addition to finding that "...it would appear that the Governor did take
the steps necessary to request emergency and major disaster declarations
for the State of Louisiana in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina. (p.11)"
The report found that:

-- All necessary conditions for federal relief were met on August 28.
Pursuant to Section 502 of the Stafford Act, "(t)he declaration of an
emergency by the President makes Federal emergency assistance available,"
and the President made such a declaration on August 28. The public record
indicates that several additional days passed before such assistance was
actually made available to the State;

-- The Governor must make a timely request for such assistance, which
meets the requirements of federal law. The report states that "(e)xcept to
the extent that an emergency involves primarily Federal interests, both
declarations of major disaster and declarations of emergency must be
triggered by a request to the President from the Governor of the affected
state";

-- The Governor did indeed make such a request, which was both timely and
in compliance with federal law. The report finds that "Governor Kathleen
Babineaux Blanco requested by letter dated August 27, 2005...that the
President declare an emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane
Katrina for the time period from August 26, 2005 and continuing pursuant
to (applicable Federal statute)" and "Governor Blanco's August 27, 2005
request for an emergency declaration also included her
determination...that 'the 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 disaster."

Ed Jay (remove M to respond)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT Whos fault is it?
    ... The Governor of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco has requested that President ... Bush declare a state of emergency due to Hurricane Katrina. ... I request Direct Federal assistance for work and services to save lives ...
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  • Report confirms state of Louisiana took necessary steps
    ... emergency by the President makes Federal emergency assistance ... available," and the President made such a declaration on August 28. ... emergency must be triggered by a request to the President from the ... Governor of the affected state"; ...
    (rec.martial-arts)
  • Re: FEMA Chief - totally unqualified??
    ... >> declaration by the President that a major disaster or emergency exists ... >> The Governor's request is made through the regional FEMA office. ... >> As part of the request, the Governor must note that the State's ... >> capability and Stafford Act assistance is necessary. ...
    (rec.bicycles.misc)
  • Re: USA accepts disaster aid from Bangladesh
    ... FEMA could NOT take over until Governor Blanco ... emergency without the request of a governor. ... evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations ...
    (alt.guitar.amps)
  • Re: FEMA Chief - totally unqualified??
    ... The most STARK fact in this disaster is EVERYONE knew it was ... The Governor's request is made through the regional FEMA office. ... Nonetheless, the Governor must ... capability and Stafford Act assistance is necessary. ...
    (rec.bicycles.misc)