On the heals of Gustav and with Ike in the possible vicinity of Louisiana, Louisiana Governor Jindal has sent a letter to President Bush urging a pre-landfall federal disaster declaration.  Also, below is a five day forcast map from the National Hurricane Center:

BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal issued the following letter to the federal government requesting a pre-landfall federal disaster declaration in preparation for Hurricane Ike.

September 7, 2008

The President

The White House

Washington, D.C.

Through:           Regional Director                                 

                        FEMA Region VI

                        800 North Loop

                        Denton, TX

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR Section 206.36, Subparts B and C, I request that you declare an emergency disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana as a result of Hurricane Ike effective September 7, 2008. According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Ike is projected to strike the coastal parishes of Louisiana. The State began emergency protective measures on September 7, 2008 and is continuing.

In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under state law and have declared a state-wide state of emergency on September 7, 2008. Furthermore, I have directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on that day in support of the state-wide emergency declaration in accordance with Section 501 of the Stafford Act.  A copy of the declaration of the state of emergency is attached.

I anticipate that the effects of the storm will overwhelm the capability of state resources and it is necessary that critical pre-positioning and other readiness requirements be provided through federal assistance. I request that federal resources be activated to assist with the evaluation of the incident and evacuation and sheltering operations.

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 and to protect property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. I am specifically requesting Public Assistance Category B Emergency Disaster Declaration to include Direct Federal Assistance statewide to address risk and host parish actions.

The following information is furnished on the nature and amount of State and local resources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of this emergency:

Activated a Hurricane Ike Task Force to plan for the evacuation and sheltering of our citizens due to the possible landfall of Hurricane Ike on the Louisiana coast;

Have extended the bus contract which returned evacuees from Hurricane Gustav to maintain their presence in Louisiana in the event of another evacuation;

The State has just expended tremendous resources in preparation and response to Hurricane Gustav as well as committing resources to the recovery phase of that disaster.

The following information is furnished on efforts and resources of other Federal agencies, which have been or will be used in response to this incident:

FEMA has activated the Joint Field Office located in Baton Rouge and is assisting the State in preparation of Hurricane Ike.

I certify that for this emergency, the State and local governments will assume all applicable non-Federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

In accordance with 44 CFR Section 206.208, the state of Louisiana agrees that it will, with respect to direct Federal assistance:

Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary to accomplish the approved work;

Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work;

Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-Federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and

Assist the performing Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

I have designated Mark Cooper as the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) and Fred Palmer as the Alternate GAR.  I have designated Mark Riley as the State Coordinating Officer (SCO) and Mark DeBossier as the Alternate SCO for this request.  Messrs. Cooper, Palmer,  Riley and DeBossier will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessments and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Bobby Jindal

Governor