A letter to WashPosts Spencer Hsu

hsus@washpost.com




I was reading your report titled 'Many Evacuated, but Thousands Still Waiting' online tonight and I noticed a error or omission in your story. Or at least what I hope was an error.

In the story you said "Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said."

I would just like to direct your attention to the Louisiana Governors web site.

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973

A direct quote:
Press Release
Date: 8/26/2005


Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037


GOVERNOR BLANCO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

BATON ROUGE, LA--Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today issued Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, declaring a state of emergency for the state Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina poses an imminent threat, carrying severe storms, high winds, and torrential rain that may cause flooding and damage to private property and public facilities, and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the state of Louisiana The state of emergency extends from Friday, August 26, 2005, through Sunday, September 25, 2005, unless terminated sooner.

The full text of Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005 is as follows:
End Quote.

That information should be public. I really don't understand how anyone could have missed it.

Thank you,
Andy XXXXXXXX

Good job.