Citizens of every city, town and rural community need to set up civil defense corps with shelters and supplies at the ready in every community. No waiting for corrupt and bloated governmental agencies then to "help". Forget FEMA, Jimmy Carters bloated bureaucracy that was designed to do away with self reliance and civic responsibility through civil defense. Bravo, you nailed it.
Citizens must expect that government will screw things up, and they must be prepared to be self sufficient.
In the end it isn't government's fault that people in New Orleans died, it is the fault of those who relied on government to protect them.