A Slight Bit of Indulgent Replication

The blame game has already begun, with people like Jeff Goldstein here quoting a Washington Post story saying that the governor delayed in declaring a state of emergency and engaged in a power struggle with the feds. He gloated about how the "Bush-haters" were sure to be "fact-checked" any second now.

As you can no doubt tell from the paucity of postings around here, I'm hurting for content, so I figured I'd be lazy and replicate it:

As this certainly looks like a declaration of a state of emergency.

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today issued Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, declaring a state of emergency for the state Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina poses an imminent threat, carrying severe storms, high winds, and torrential rain that may cause flooding and damage to private property and public facilities, and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the state of Louisiana The state of emergency extends from Friday, August 26, 2005, through Sunday, September 25, 2005, unless terminated sooner.

Yep, that’s a state of emergency all right.

As for the wrangling, well...

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 501 (a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.35, I request that you declare an emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina for the time period beginning August 26, 2005, and continuing…

...In response to the situation I have taken appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on August 26, 2005 in accordance with Section 501 (a) of the Stafford Act. A State of Emergency has been issued for the State in order to support the evacuations of the coastal areas in accordance with our State Evacuation Plan and the remainder of the state to support the State Special Needs and Sheltering Plan.

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.

Bolding mine. You like bolding the incriminating stuff so much, Jeff, I figured I’d respond in turn.

It certainly LOOKS like Bush had the go-ahead. Happened on the 26th, too. Oh, and as you no doubt know, DHS/FEMA policy requires that in these sorts of situations, local and state officials defer to their coordination. Pity that such coordination was lacking, but them’s the breaks, huh?

So, how’s about that “fact-checking” now, chum?