amen! Every city or town in America has or should have an emergency contingency plan. If New Orleans had one and it wasn't implemented the blame falls on the Emergency Management Director. The EM director is the person who should call the Governor to request aid in the form of supplies and or National Guardsmen. He should also contact the Red Cross. If N.O. didn't have an EM director then the job would fall to the Mayor to coordinate efforts. FEMA, and the Military does not intervene without being asked.