Final answer:
The incorrect statement is that FEMA was effective in its response to disasters, as seen during Hurricane Katrina and other emergencies. FEMA faced criticism for poor coordination and mismanagement, reflecting the difficulty in managing responses to natural disasters and the importance of competent leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is incorrect regarding the decisions of major disaster and emergency declaration requests is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was effective in its coordination during disasters. For example, during Hurricane Katrina, while the U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued over thirty-five thousand people, FEMA's response was criticized for being ineffective. The issues with FEMA, an agency tasked with supporting state and local governments during natural disasters, included poor coordination of agencies and inadequate use of rescue infrastructure. This criticism was heightened by the fact that FEMA's director at the time, Michael D. Brown, lacked a background in emergency management and was seen as a product of cronyism.
In other instances, such as a severe freeze event in south Texas, the repercussions of both under and overreacting to natural disasters became evident. In that event, the failure of the power grid led to deaths and highlighted the delicate balance officials must maintain between creating undue panic and being unprepared. Additionally, the president has the authority to employ the National Guard in federal service, adding to federal response capabilities.
In conclusion, FEMA's past failures have highlighted the challenges faced by federal bodies in coordinating and executing response strategies effectively during national emergencies, emphasizing the weight of responsibility on both agency officials and the president.