U.S. President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana as the state prepares for Tropical Storm Isaac, the White House said Monday. According to a White House statement, Obama called Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal Monday, informing him of the emergency declaration. The president also spoke with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. "The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures," the White House said. "Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding," the White House said. Forecasters predict that Isaac will intensify into a Category 1 hurricane later Monday or Tuesday, with a projected path leading directly over New Orleans Wednesday.
