DC and emergency zone?

About 300 refugees from NO are in DC, and the President has declared a state of emergency for DC to make federal funds available to help them. Certainly I applaud the use of federal money to help people in need after Katrina, but declaring a "state of emergency" seems overboard for 300 people, especially since there are homeless in DC every single day who don't warrant such status. If the feds can help 300 get back on their feet after a few days, what about those that have been here for years?

I'm sure I don't have the full picture here. I'm really hoping that this isn't just some sort of political grandstanding to help make up for the slow response in the South. Anybody want to help me out here?

link to related press release.