FEMA is in Kentucky -- just not being reported by the Main Stream Media

A bunch of bloggers have been reporting that everybody and their brothers have rushed to Kentucky to help with the massive power outages and freezing temperatures. That is, everybody except FEMA. Turns out they should have done a little fact checking as FEMA is in fact there. They worked with Governor Steve Beshear to get him to sign the proper authorization to get FEMA in and working. Many people forget that it wasn't Bush42's fault that FEMA didn't make its way into New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it was that Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin failed to issue the formal request -- all the while FEMA and President Bush was pleading with them to do so. From this page on the FEMA website:

FEMA Assists Kentucky With Winter Storm Emergency
Priorities Are Saving Lives, Protecting Public Health and Safety

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is helping the Commonwealth of Kentucky with its response to this week's major winter storm. Wednesday evening, Gov. Steve Beshear asked for and quickly received an Emergency Declaration from President Obama, which cleared the way for federal aid for 61 designated counties.

FEMA began moving food, water and industrial-size emergency generators into the commonwealth Thursday morning. To date, 12 truckloads of water, six truckloads of meals ready-to-eat and 50 industrial-size generators to provide power for critical facilities have moved into the national logistics staging area at Fort Campbell. In addition, FEMA is fulfilling the commonwealth's requests for fuel and communications equipment.

"We are working closely with Kentucky emergency management officials and will continue to do so as long as necessary to help the people of the commonwealth through this winter storm emergency," FEMA Regional Administrator Phil May said. "Our priorities are to save lives and protect public health and safety."

But of course, that is from the FEMA website and everybody knows that FEMA lies. Well OK, how about this: Kentucky Division of Emergency Management

After a request from Governor Steve Beshear, on the evening of January 28, 2009 President Obama approved a Federal Emergency Declaration for Kentucky. This emergency declaration allowed FEMA to immediately initiate crucial resources to the state critical to infrastructure and protection and safety of life.

See -- Beshear did it right, Blanco took three days to do this simple request. Well, that was a state website and everybody knows they lie. Well OK, how about this: The Kentucky Post

N.Ky. Fire Depts. Get FEMA Funding
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $913,699 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding to local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in the state of Kentucky.

Falmouth and Crescent Springs will receive more than $100,000 for their fire departments.

This is what FEMA does -- they handle the big picture. Infrastructure, housing after the fact, generators and heaters to keep refuges warm and lit. They do not do house-to-house searches, that is the job of the military National Guard. They have the training to do this, FEMA is logistics and engineering. These two organizations have very little overlap. Here's an article from CNN:

Kentucky governor: Obama people �hit the ground running� on storm
Kentucky�s governor is praising the Obama administration�s prompt reaction to the fierce wintry weather that slammed his state.

�They really hit the ground running,� said Steve Beshear, interviewed by CNN. �They�re working very hard to get all the equipment and supplies here that we need.�

Crews have been working to restore power and water service to hundreds of thousands of people. Beshear said that while he realizes �nothing moves fast enough,� he said the federal assistance �has been a great help to us so far.�

And the money quote:

He said he spoke to the director of intergovernment relations and said she walked Kentucky�s paperwork through. He said President Obama called him and told him he was announcing an emergency declaration for the state.

"she walked Kentucky�s paperwork through" New Orleans had all sorts of offers of help from the Federal end but until they walked the paperwork through, FEMA and all of the other agencies could not lift a finger. The down side of States Rights. Now that Bobby Jindal is at the helm of Louisiana, another 'Katrina' will be dealt with properly. Governor Steve Beshear asked for help on Wednesday evening and the help (FEMA) arrived that following Thursday morning...