Yes that is the thrust of the FACTS. A declaration of a "federal desaster area" is just the first step in a very well laid out series of steps (yes, in the constitution) as to when the feds can come to town and take over. Without those steps the feds could come in and take over any time some less than scrupled prez thought you were a threat to say, an election, an image, an agenda or even an Idea, is that want you want. As far as your friends relitive,I can feel their pain (I lost my grandmother and great aunt to hurricane Carla in Houston in the 60's)