From what I've read, the results of a hurricane of "Katrina" magnitude hitting New Orleans was clearly predicted. Yet the required fortifications of the levees to withstand such an onslaught of nature were not constructed. That was the initial mistake, the one which allowed this disaster to happen at all. The outrageous blunders by authorities compounded this negligence. And somebody, somewhere, is to blame for the city's obvious vulnerability to flooding. My two-cent opinion: don't even THINK ABOUT rebuilding New Orleans. The cost to taxpayers nationwide will be astronomical. I, for one, do not want the gov't sticking their greedy hands into my pockets for more money that they flagrantly waste. Having lived a life of careful spending habits, you can just imagine how government theft makes my hair stand straight up! Sorry for the rant; have to let it out sometimes.
Yes, that is certainly true. The Times-Picayune series was extremely detailed and accurate. I did not mean to say that the possible (and probable) scenarios were not understood in advance.
My point was that FEMA was/is responding to a disaster area far, far larger than New Orleans, and, regardless of the expectations of particular catastrophic results, many logistical details simply can't be worked out until after the storm hits. Like: where are the victims? Who needs food? How can we get there? Are there remaining hazards that must be mitigated before rescues can even begin? And remember, the planning and rescues had already begun in the wake of the hurricane before the levees were breached, which necessitated a whole new cycle of reaction and planning.
Everything before the disaster is just guesswork. As to your point about the inadequate levee system, there is no doubt that improving the levees was a very low priority in Louisiana government over the years. Even the improvement project that was underway was not designed to withstand a Category 4 Hurricane. I've heard some critics say "why would you plan only for the most likely, and not plan for the worst case?!" Well, you always plan for the most likely case. This is the first Cat 4-5 to hit New Orleans in the 200 years the city has been there. If being prepared for the worst possible case is the standard, we are all in for some colossal taxes and spending.
Having said that, the many years of huge funding for Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana would certainly have allowed for levee improvements beyond what was done, and many officials, including Nagin and Blanco, will have to answer for how that money was actually (mis)spent.
And don't apologize for the rant - it was a good one!