Reply #5: Blanco first asked bush to declare a state of emergency for LA. [View All]

[Garbo 2004]

State of emergency authorizes federal assistance and aid to the state and local jurisdictions in responding to the emergency (ie, gov't to gov't assistance). Her Aug 28 letter asked Bush to declare an "expedited major disaster" for LA. Declaration of major disaster authorizes federal assistance directly to individuals such as grants, loans, housing assistance, etc.

This two step is not an unusual procedure: first requesting federal state of emergency and then requesting federal declaration of an expedited major disaster.

Additionally, Blanco did not ask for "federalization." That term generally is used when the feds take over state efforts and resources. That is precisely what Blanco refused to cede to Bush when he presssured her to do so days later.