Blanco's emergency request dates help me out here

[never_get_over_it]

I have heard/read several times today that Kathleen Blanco requested Federal Assistance on Aug 28th including in a Will Pitt's article at TruthOut http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/090605A.shtml I was confused by this because I knew there was a press release on the White House site dated the 27th http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

When I originally heard about the White House press release I got the impression that Blanco requested on the 26th. Here is what she did on the 26th http://gov.louisiana.gov/2005%20%20proclamations/48pro2005-Emergency-HurricaneKatrina.pdf and I guess the letter to the White House went out on the 27th http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=976

Can someone explain this to me - I'm confused

I'm only asking this because in a situation like this there is a BIG difference between the 26th and the 28th - Katrina hit early morning on the 29th.

[snot]

1. Good questions--KICK! nt

[Melodybe]

2. here is a link to her letter to Bush 2 days before Katrina hit

She does ask for help with evacuation BTW:

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

[snot]

4. OK that's the 8/28 ltr. But I too thought she req'd help on 8/26. nt

[never_get_over_it]

6. August 28 was the day before the hurricane hit - eom

[rooboy]

3. Here is a link to the letter

And there is NOT a big difference between 26th and 28th. The letter wasn't asking for anyone to stop the friggin hurricane, they wanted help AFTERWARDS.

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

[never_get_over_it]

5. There is a huge difference between the 26th and 28th

because the help they needed could have been organized and staged in a safe but close location for immediate deployment once the storm passed. Also "they" could have helped the locals with evacuation

[longship]

7. Two different events.

Blanco declared emergency on Friday, and sent request to FEMA and Bush on 28th.

Bush acted on 27th declaring emergency. (But then did nothing else, apparently.)

[Princess Turandot]

8. According to the NY Times, LA declared a state of emergency..

on Friday, August 26th when the storm was barely past the Keys and Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on the 27th, which I think brings FEMA into play.It also shows where the hurricane was day by day.



http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/2005_HURRICANEKATRINA_GRAPHIC/index_05.html

Click on Day by Day. It may not load if you have pop-up blockers running.Even if this doesn't help you directly, it has some very clear diagrams of what did happen.

[Be Brave]

9. I guess the confusion comes about because the press release you

linked to, which includes a rougher version of the letter requesting declaration of state of emergency, is dated August 27th, while the PDF file being linked to (post #3) is dated August 28th. It would be good to resolve this discrepancy.

[Garbo 2004]

10. Blanco declared a state of emergency in LA on the 26th at the state

level. That declaration gives the Gov emergency powers.

On the 27th she asked Bush to declare a state of emergency for LA (that's at the fed level). Bush then declares a state of emergency that same day. At that point, there really was nothing precluding the feds from taking action. In fact, they are committed to it by the federal declaration of emergency.

From Feb 27 FEMA press release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced that Federal resources are being allocated to support emergency protective response efforts response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina.

Brown said President Bush authorized the aid under an emergency disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance. FEMA will mobilize equipment and resources necessary to protect public health and safety by assisting law enforcement with evacuations, establishing shelters, supporting emergency medical needs, meeting immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property, in addition to other emergency protective measures. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447


On the 28th, Blanco sent another letter requesting Bush to declare an expedited major disaster for LA. Aug 28th letter available in .pdf format here: http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

[snot]

11. Any authority or source re- Blanco's declaration on the 26th? nt

[Garbo 2004]

12. OP contains link to .pdf of 8/26 LA declaration of emergency; text

available here: http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973 and here: http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=4836