BOTTOM LINE...
In ANY Major Disaster, and, GOD FORBID, one of this size. it's ALWAYS been known that it takes 36-72 hours to mount any kind of a large rescue effort...
Local municipalities are ON THERE OWN for the first 48+ hours..
They taught us that 20 YEARS ago, when I was a CD volunteer. The idea of community self -elp and self-reliance broke down when the first looter looked at the cop and smiled, and he walked on
I understand that. I do. I just think that a bit of decisive and competent local leadership and some elbow grease, as opposed to hand-wringing and buck-passing, might have saved some lives.