A couple of comments with that infamous FEMA video

"President Trump announces national emergency. President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency, releasing $50 billion to fight COVID-19.

When President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday in the White House Rose Garden, he said it would "unleash the full power of the federal government."
Referring to "national emergency" as "two very big words," he said designating the coronavirus crisis that way would allow him to quickly get $50 billion to states, territories and localities "in our shared fight against this disease."

Surrounded by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference on COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, March 13, 2020. Trump is declaring coronavirus a national emergency.

Trump declared the emergency under both the Stafford Act and the even bigger National Emergencies Act to unlock sweeping executive power in response to a national crisis.

Trump had indicated to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that he was considering enacting the Stafford Act, a law that allows a president to unlock the powers of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA to assist states and municipalities in a time of crisis.

"We have very strong emergency powers under the Stafford Act," Trump said. "I have it memorized, practically, as to the powers in that act. And if I need to do something, I’ll do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about."

Former Acting Homeland Security Undersecretary John Cohen, now an ABC News contributor, says the declaration "signals the administration is finally recognizing the significance of these circumstances and bringing to bear all available resources of the federal government to address it."

"This is an important step that based on current conditions should surprise no one -- the only surprise is that it wasn't done sooner," Cohen said.

Here's what you need to know about the powers that give presidents the authority to declare national emergencies:

What is the National Emergencies Act?
Enacted in 1976, the National Emergencies Act authorizes the president to declare a "national emergency" whenever he or she decides it’s appropriate. It offers no specific definition of "emergency," so it’s entirely at the president’s discretion.
Once declared, the president avails himself or herself of dozens of specialized laws -- some of which have access to funds the president otherwise could not use. Essentially, the president is allowed to bypass Congress and reprogram funding already allocated by lawmakers toward whatever areas the head of the executive branch deems fit.
Under current law, emergency powers lapse within a year unless the president renews them. A national emergency can be re-declared indefinitely and that has been done frequently in practice.

What is the Stafford Act?
Enacted in 1988, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or Stafford Act empowers FEMA to directly assist state and local governments during "natural catastrophes" and coordinate the nation's unified response.
"It basically cuts the red tape of Washington and allows the federal government to rapidly direct more resources at local levels needed to respond to the disaster," Cohen said.
The Stafford Act essentially triggers FEMA's financial and physical assistance so that more than $50 billion in federal funding set aside by Congress can be utilized to respond to a crisis, such as a natural disaster or pandemic like COVID-19. The funding may be used on anything from paying first responders overtime to building new medical facilities, among other measures, so that states and municipalities can mobilize more quickly."

Also:

"First of all, FEMA used to have more autonomy and power prior to the end of the Cold War, where it reported to, and took direct orders from only the President. It slowly was merged under the DHS, and then its power and influence were reduced as no more direct line to the president. But they are reporting to his cabinet and he's telling his cabinet how to run things. Also, all of those EOs that were issued do not give FEMA power over the President, nor are they immune from being repealed in 5 minutes by the President with a new EO, just like every president has done to their predecessors' EOs. Bottom line is that when you dissect 3 words out of someone's mouth who is answering questions 3 hours a day and in meetings all day long you can spin them any way that fits your narrative. But the only fact that is unequivocally true is that FEMA has never, does not, and will never operate without presidential approval and that includes each and every move they make. That is a fact."

4-14-2020