Project Katrina

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has requested and received presidential designation of a state of emergency for California, invoking the Stafford Act and therefore a response from FEMA to the wildfires that are still engulfing the great state of California. This means:

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, and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael J. Hall as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

Lets take a quick look at how the Stafford Act is supposed to work, thanks for an “info” graphic from the Federal government.

You’ll note in the Stafford Act chart that it’s the Governor, who asks FEMA, who asks the President to declare a Federal disaster or emergency so as to free up funds and relief that through the National Response Framework can be delivered to the states. Past that, the chart and in fact, the entire process hurts my head. I sure hope Gov. Schwarzenegger has a “Chart Reading Expert” in place to ensure the people of CA get the help they so richly deserve.