The Examiner has an interesting story today on leadership roles in the event of a Washington emergency situation. Apparently, if the city comes under a major terrorist attack, charge of ths situation is not to be taken by the President, or the Vice President, or Karl Rove, or Alexander Haig. As it so happens, Mayor Williams is supposed to be in charge.

Sort of.

He’s in charge, but he doesn’t have the authority to call up the D.C. National Guard; he’s got to ring up Dubya to ask for that. And apparently, if the disaster is “enormous” — think Hurrican Katrina — matters are handed back to the Federal Government, because they have more experience screwing up large-scale disaster response. The Examiner article also has these gems:

In a major attack, the responding police or fire chief takes charge on the ground, even on federal property…

In the case of a terrorist attack, the FBI takes command at the crime scene…

Clear as mud. Between the above outlines and the Examiner’s description of the city’s war room as “NASA-like,” which terrifies us, there’s plenty to be concerned about. Perhaps the question we should answer first, however, is this: if President Bush is reading to children in Florida and Mayor Williams is on a junket to Africa, then who’s in charge?

Picture taken by maxedaperture.