For Agencies Across U.S., a Wintry Mix

President Obama gets a briefing from DHS, FEMA officials Tuesday.

While federal employees in the Washington area brace for freezing rain that could cause more commuting snafus, agencies in the rest of the country are steeling themselves for weather problems of a potentially more serious nature.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches, warnings or advisories in more than 30 states, and blizzard warnings in eight of them. Today, President Obama got a briefing in the White House from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate about how the federal government is preparing to respond to the extreme conditions.

They told the president that the following states have taken FEMA up on its offer to deploy personnel and coordinate with local officials on response efforts: Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Even while events in Egypt rapidly unfold, Obama is clearly aware that failing to respond effectively to natural disasters at home can cost a president dearly.