question about FEMA

[blueraven95]

some of my very good friends on another board suddenly outed themselves as very conservative and I have been arguing with them. But one of them made the point that it was the gov's job to call on Bush and FEMA for aid. Regardless, Bush and FEMA fell down on the job, at least to me and other rational people, but according to these posters, its really the gov and mayor who are to blame for New Orleans. Anyway, as much as I disagree with them, I did start wondering, what is the procedure for FEMA? Does it really have to wait until a gov calls it in? And even if it doesn't have to wait to be asked for help, what traditionally has happened in these sorts of situations? Has it waited before for SOS's? And what authority does the President have? It seems to me that my friends are simply spouting White House talking points to that are designed to take the heat off of the administration, but I really need real proof of that to shove in their faces.

Thanks for any help. I'm not really sure where to go looking, and there is such a wealth of info here.

[Spazito]

1. Read this thread, it has it laid out perfectly

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4668155

[blitzburgh55]

2. This should help

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/5/225729/7487

this too. There is more on the NRP in the comments to this blog.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4675950

[walldude]

3. Make sure when you tell them what you saw here

you use the WH and FEMA links. Neo's love to claim that all internet info is false(unless it's a place they frequent) I won't even discuss things with a neo unless I have links from their own sources

[firefox]

4. On Sunday, the Governor made the request

The Governor of Louisiana made the formal request and enumerated his request for aid in a four-page letter the Sunday before the hurricane hit.

Of course if the federal government did not spend 20% of the GDP maybe the states could deal with things themselves using alliances and leave the federal government out of it completely. But when the USG takes their huge cut, just what is left to take from the "poor" people?

[carpetbagger]

5. Yep, she asked a day BEFORE landfall. Here's the link...

http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=976

"Pursuant to 44 CFR § 206.35, I have determined that this 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 a disaster. I am specifically requesting emergency protective measures, direct Federal Assistance, Individual and Household Program (IHP) assistance, Special Needs Program assistance, and debris removal."

[katusha]

6. heres some reference

here is the state of emergency declaration from Fri. aug. 26 BEFORE katrina hit
http://gov.louisiana.gov/2005%20%20proclamations/48pro2005-Emergency-HurricaneKatrina.pdf

here is the request to homeland security for aid
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf
specifically this:

I have determined that this incident will be of such severity and magnatude that effective response will be beyond the capabilitiesof the state and affected local governments and that supplementery federal assistance will be necessary.

and finaly this isn't the first time that FEMA has stiffed Blanco.
http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=788

Baton Rouge, LA—Governor Blanco today pledged $25,000 to the Town of Olla in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to deny Louisiana’s appeal for a major disaster declaration and Individual Assistance.

“I am extremely disappointed by FEMA’s decision to ignore the economic hardships that many Louisianians have endured as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes that struck central and south Louisiana last November,” Governor Blanco said.

[blueraven95]

7. thanks, you guys are great!

I was so steamed when I was reading at work (which I shouldn't have been doing) and didn't have the time to respond properly.

You all saved me!