The Katrina Time line that has been posted does not address this and I would really like an answer!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050831-4.html Governor Blanco requested aid on 28th and specified the Parishes that were expected to receive the most damage - the Southern ones.
Bush authorized the northern counties on August 26 and the southern ones on August 29 when he declared an emergency for the entire state. Why did he declare an emergency in the northern parishes before the southern? He declared an emergency for the southern ones only after Governor Blanco requested it. He definitely gave aid to the northern parishes before the southern ones when he declared an emergency for the entire state. And I don’t know what prompted him to declare the aid for the northern ones without a request from the Governor.
Request sent buy Governor Blanco on August 28th. She lists the parishes that are most likely to be affected and they are all Southern one, none of the ones Bush approved on the 26th. (If someone can click on the link and copy the Parishes listed I would appreciate it - for some reason it won't copy on my computer right now)
http://www.gov.state.la.us/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana
The 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.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 7, 2005
Statement on Federal Assistance for Illinois
The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Illinois and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts to assist evacuees from the area struck by Hurricane Katrina and to provide emergency assistance to those areas beginning on
August 29, 2005, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to the State and all 102 counties of the State of Illinois.
Specifically, assistance is available to State and eligible local governments for emergency protective measures that are undertaken to save lives and protect public health and safety. Emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 100 percent Federal funding.
Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Janet M. Odeshoo as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.