US President Barack Obama declared Tuesday a state of emergency in the State of Mississippi and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Isaac. The White House said in a statement that Obama'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." 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 statement noted. Obama also declared on Monday a state of emergency in the State of Louisiana and warned residents today that "now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously" as Tropical Storm Isaac is projected to reach hurricane strength and to make landfall later today
