Both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in 2010 impelled Americans to demand that the president take extraordinary and vigorous actions. Both disasters also have major implications for Americas public managers. When presidents declare major disasters and emergencies under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 (Stafford Act), both tangible and symbolic purposes are served.
Would it have made a difference if Presidents George W
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