    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [February 1, 2003]
    [Pages 120-121]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Declaration Under the Stafford Act for Louisiana: Space
    Shuttle Columbia
    February 1, 2003

    Memorandum for the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Subject: Declaration Under the Stafford Act for Louisiana: Space Shuttle
    Columbia

        I have determined that the emergency conditions in certain areas of
    the State of Louisiana in connection with the events relating to the
    loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003, are of
    sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration
    under section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
    Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206 (the ``Stafford Act'').
    The basis for my decision to make this declaration pursuant to section
    501(b) of the Stafford Act includes the fact that the space shuttle and
    the space program are Federal property and Federal programs. I,
    therefore, declare that such an emergency exists in the State of
    Louisiana.
        In order to provide Federal assistance, you are hereby authorized to
    coordinate and direct other Federal agencies and fund activities not
    authorized under other Federal statutes and allocate from funds
    available for these purposes, such amounts as you find necessary for
    Federal emergency assistance and administrative expenses.
        Pursuant to this emergency declaration, you are authorized to
    provide emergency

    [[Page 121]]

    assistance as you deem appropriate under title V of the Stafford Act at
    100 percent Federal funding.
        Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration to
    the extent allowable under the Stafford Act.

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this memorandum.