Someone on another thread stated 5-7 days for relief in the tsunami disaster..can you verify the time??...but you have to admit...the prevailing attitude of the people in NO is "hep me...hep me"...I have seen interviews and reports of people whom did prepare and have water and food...and guns...and they can wait a week or so for help to arrive...
The first U.S. units were into SW Asia in less than 24 hours, deployed from Diego Garcia. I knew one of them, a Guardsman who lives a few houses down from my old place in Cary. Exactly what units I can't say just now.
The money took longer; Congress had to get organized to spend it.
I watched Foxnews last night. There was video of people in Houston and NO demanding assistance. Demanding shelter, ice, water, etc.
Whatever happened to helping yourself? Particularly if you're able bodied enough to drive from N.O. to Houston....
It would be good, I think, to help those that need it - the infirm, the disabled, the injured, etc. I'd even go so far as to add in those that are trapped by flooding - it's not easy to get out when you're on a roof surrounded by 15' of water. Limiting assistance to these people in desperate need would simplify issues enormously.
However, if you're on dry land, with a full complement of limbs and faculties and the ability to use them...I've little sympathy if you can't figure out a way out. It's been days - I wonder if these people considered walking out? Get out to a shelter, or a church. IMHO, if you're able enough to stand in front of a camera railing about how much help you need - then you don't need much help.