Final answer:
Requests for emergency assistance should be initiated by state and local governments, as federalism involves a division of powers that requires localities to lead in disaster response requests.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the video 'Hurricane Katrina', requests for emergency assistance during a natural disaster are consistent with federalism because they should be initiated by the state and local governments. This aligns with the principles of federalism where the division of power between the national government and the state governments means that state and local authorities must take the first step in requesting aid. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, there was a delay in this process as well as in the federal response, demonstrating the complexity of managing such disasters within a federalist system.