If we learn only one thing from this tragedy, it is to update our emergency kits. Do not rely on the government to help you or your family. I am not knocking the emergency workers but if you have to rely on them, you can wind up like these refugees.
I told my husband that I was going to revamp our emergency supplies based on what I've learned from this storm.
Also I think every city should learn the lesson and supply key personnel in the city with satellite phones. In an emergency you can't count on the cells, radios, or land based lines.
Communication breakdowns, IMHO, is what is greatly contributing to the confusion.
When Shep asked that officer today where these people were supposed to go, I think the reason the officer didn't answer him is that the officers themselves are operating in a blank because of communication failures.
This is true, and not even because of incompetence or failed plans or whatever other fingerpointing sorts of reasons. The reality is that there are things that can happen, like this, where the scope of the problem is simply too great for anything to happen immediately for most of the affected people.
A little bit of self-reliance goes a long way, and helps even more by trimming down the sheer volume of people that need immediate help.