FEMA Urged First Responders Not To Help With Katrina Aftermath

According to this August 29th FEMA press release, the Bush administration was far more diligent in turning away help for the victims in the the early hours of Katrina's aftermath, than they were in cutting through the red tape to get the victims the help that they needed.

Here's the lead of the FEMA press release:

Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response and head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), today urged all fire and emergency services departments not to respond to counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Governor Blanco had already submitted her request for an expedited declaration of a major disaster to the President and to the regional FEMA office on August 28th, the day before the FEMA press release.

More from the FEMA release:

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Well, not really.