Declaration of a state of emergency in the state of Louisiana, Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, Governor Kathleen Blanco, August 26, 2005 [declaring a state of emergency in effect through September 25, 2005 unless terminated earlier]. Excerpt:

SECTION 1: Pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency is declared to exist in the state of 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;

SECTION 2: The state of Louisiana's emergency response and recovery program is activated under the command of the director of the state office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to prepare for and provide emergency support services and/or to minimize the effects of the storm's damage.

Read the full text of the declaration.