No Martial Law; More Evacuation Requested

Demonstrating yet again how poorly media can perform in emergencies, the Louisiana Attorney General (and Governor's Office) has clarified that "martial law" has not been declared in New Orleans (or anywhere else in the state); the term does not appear in state law. That said, there is no clarification on the AG web site.

Governor Blanco did declare a state of emergency on Friday and, according to the Jurist, this declaration gives state officials the "power to suspend civil liberties in the process of restoring order, and the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993 gives the governor and heads of parishes power to commandeer property."

Voice of America reports that the Governor said anyone remaining in New Orleans should leave because flood waters continue to rise. The Governor has also notified evacuees that they cannot return to some portions of southeast Louisiana. State police will not allow cars into New Orleans.

See prior post for discussion of state of emergency versus martial law. RS 29:766 - Declaration of a state of public health emergency

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