It was exactly the same after Hurricane Wilma devastated S. FL.
For WEEKS my little neighborhood was left to fend for ourselves, which we DID. We all helped each other. We never saw a FEMA worker, Red Cross person, LEO, or any other kind of government employee or elected official.
Except for the president of the HOA who loaded up his SUV and fled to Orlando, leaving the neighbors to take care of each other.
Same here after Wilma. No water for a week, no power for 16 days...not a Red Cross or FEMA worker in sight. We all just worked together, shared our food and water, sat in the dark...
Until the out-of-state power worker sent 220 down the 110 line into my house, burning it down...