 Theoretically the declaration of a state of emergency on August 26 gave Nagin the right under Louisiana law to commandeer all these buses for the duration of the emergency.
<clarity>  Theoretically the declaration of a state of emergency on August 26 gave Nagin the right under Louisiana law to commandeer all these buses for the duration of the emergency.
 However, if he had known about them, the declaration of a state of emergency on August 26 gave Nagin the right under Louisiana law to commandeer all these buses for the duration of the emergency.