Katrina Emergency Declaration: New Orleans exempted... anyone remember?

[Brotherjohn]

I'm reading Ivor Van Heerden's excellent book "The Storm", and he mentions something I remember hashing out here on DU once. Brownie and others once made the claim that New Orleans was exempted from the State of Emergency declared by Bush on Sat, Aug. 27th (retroactive to Aug. 26).

Now, if one looks at the White House declaration, if DOES NOT in fact include New Orleans. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html) It lists a series of parishes covered and curiously, Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard... in fact, NO coastal parishes are listed!

I thought this was odd at the time, and I remember someone posting that the reason (besides conspiracy theory) was something to the effect of FEMA not being legally allowed to position assets/resources in flooded areas / within the disaster area (but NOT being unable to help there).

Anyone familiar w/ the reasoning?

[efhmc]

1. Heard this on Randi Rhodes also.

[ixion]

2. Not declaring the coastal areas under a State of Emergency is BS

has it ever happened before? Why now? Just another coincidence?

BushCo really seems to thrive on coincidence, if that is the case. It's what they've based their entire narrative on.

[wryter2000]

3. They claimed that at the time

I do believe it was disproved. We need to look at what Blanco wrote, but what the douphouses in DC say she wrote.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Yes...

it's called Bullshit or CYA depending on your point-of-view.