La. Gov. Bobby Jindal asks President Obama for more Tropical Storm Isaac aid
Mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu (L) listens as Lousiana Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks to the media during a press conference on Hurricane Isaac at the New Orleans City Hall on August 27, 2012. / Getty Images
(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on Monday as that state and others along the Gulf Coast prepared for Tropical Storm Isaac.
The White House said Obama informed Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal of the emergency declaration in a phone call. The declaration makes federal support available to save lives, protect public health and safety and preserve property in coastal areas.
Jindal, a Republican, shot back late Monday in a letter to the Obama administration that the declaration fell short of the help he was requesting.
"We appreciate your response to our request and your approval," Jindal wrote. "However, the state's original request for federal assistance ... included a request for reimbursement for all emergency protective measures. The federal declaration of emergency only provides for direct federal assistance."
Under law, the federal government can provide direct assistance at 75 percent of federal funding, with states responsible for 25 percent of costs, though there are exceptions for small, impoverished communities.
Jindal said the storm is forecast to strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane "and squarely impact the state of Louisiana."
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The governor said the storm now threatens the entire state.
"The speed with which this threat developed "has necessitated extraordinary emergency protective measures at the state and local government level," he said, adding that the state has already spent about $8 million on a variety of "emergency protective measures."
Tropical Storm Isaac's projected path
/ NOAA.govThe White House did not respond immediately to requests for comment on Jindal's letter.
Obama has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts with state and local officials along the Gulf Coast. FEMA has placed incident-response teams at emergency operations centers in Gulf states and has moved two support teams near areas where the storm could hit. More teams also are ready to be deployed if necessary, the White House said.
FEMA has distribution centers in Atlanta and the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and in coordination with the Defense Department, has pre-positioned supplies in Jacksonville, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama, closer to areas where the storm could hit.
Forecasters predict Isaac will intensify into a Category 2 hurricane with winds of about 100 mph by early Wednesday, with a projected path directly toward New Orleans. Isaac could become the first hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast since 2008.
Obama also spoke Monday with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and other federal officials have had calls with governors and tribal and local leaders to discuss storm preparations.
Below, watch a NASA/NOAA time lapse video of satellite images taken of Isaac
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Hypocritical a@2hole Bobby Jindal. Why should my tax dollars have to reimburse the state coffers for responding to the emergencies that occur in your state. After all aren't you the hypocritical b22stard that wanted FEMA to be cut. And just because you have not budgeted for natural disasters just so that you could give a tax cut to your rich buddies does not mean that we taxpayers have to pay for your poor planning."
Reply to this comment ..by waaaaaaaaaaa August 31, 2012 4:17 AM EDT
hey lesbian cult feminist nordic tribal pig!!!
why don't you nordic tribal pig who gave birth to the african baby run your stupid country!!!!!!!
why you nordic tribe pig vote for jindal!!!!!!!!!!!
and it is true he didn't build the levees. but it broke. Why? obama was right. first he need to cure the workers with his health care "AIDS".
thats right. he din't build tropical storm issac.
and it is true he didn't build the levees. but it broke. Why? obama was right. firt he need to cure the workers with his health care "AIDS".
and it is true he didn't build the levees. but it broke. Why? obama was right. first he need to cure the workers with his health care "AIDS".
what's waaaaaaaaaaa means come?
any way,
this will solve your problem.
there is no shame to be on same boat with the greatest tea bagger of all The" george Washing a lot of ton" from england i know his back ground the tea baggers can relate!!! its time to reform the goverment. since the republican party is the creater of the united states and creator of goverment, and creater of the reforms that followed later (all the federal aides not AIDS) that means they were the ones making the rules and democratic party doing good job following the rules. it shows democrates are good followers of those leaders.
let public money pay for the public and let private money pay for the private. ITS THAT SIMPLE. let jindel make the rules and all you racist democrates and obama follow them. PROBLEM SOLVED?!!
Why don't you ask some of your rich oil buddies, that you want tax breaks for, to help out. I know, Mitt says he likes to help people, or is his money just for helping Mormons?
you racist pigs will all be sunk
WHY didn't Bobby insist people evacuate in Lousiana? Only 5000 people are in shelters? Now they have to use our tax monies to rescue really STUPID stubborn backhills people. Apparently they don't have TVs and didn't see the Katrina mess.
I am so sick of these States Rights Tea Baggers, who whine and complain about everything the President and the Federal Government do, but are not MAN enough to do their own jobs. He should go into the trash can next to Palin and Perry. Losers.