What does a "state of emergancy" allow the country's government to do?

Question

It's happening now and it's all over the news. They keep quacking about it but I don't have any idea what it means!

Answer 1

Well first, you spelled emergency wrong.

Second, I believe it's to keep us fascinated by and fearful of the state of things in this country. Fear is an emotion which, more than any other, fosters a feeling of helpless dependency on our fatherly government.

Answer 2

Here it usually means that federal groups like FEMA can help out and those areas can recieve Federal funding for the efforts.

Wikipedia says:
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, may work to alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or may order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale for suspending civil liberties. Such declarations usually come during a time of natural disaster, during periods of civil unrest, or following a declaration of war (therefore, in democratic countries many call this martial law, most with non-critical intent). Justitium is its equivalent in Roman law.

In some countries, the state of emergency and its effects on civil liberties and governmental procedure are regulated by the constitution or a law that limits the powers that may be invoked during an emergency or rights suspended. It is also frequently illegal to modify the emergency law or Constitution during the emergency.

Answer 3

State of Emergancy mean what it says. You are likely hearing about the drought around Tennessee and Kentucky, am I right?

Answer 4

It depends on that country's rules and laws. In Pakistan, apparently it means stifling freedom, arresting dissidents, firing the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, and instituting martial law.

Answer 5

Allows the government to throw their hands in their air and indirectly say "We don't know what the hell to do!!"

Answer 6

Federal funds can be allocated