BUSH SIGNS DISASTER DECLARTION FOR TX AHEAD OF HURRICANE DEAN

President Bush, who was criticized for a slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina, took a pre-emptive strike Saturday against Hurricane Dean blowing through the Caribbean and threatening the Texas coast.

Bush, who received two hurricane briefings at his ranch, signed a pre-landfall disaster declaration, allowing the federal government to move in people, equipment and supplies immediately in case Hurricane Dean hits the state.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that after Katrina, the federal government began reaching out to states facing a disaster and suggesting they request the declaration sooner rather than later. Texas Gov. Rick Perry asked FEMA for the declaration late Saturday morning and Bush approved it hours later. Fox