Exactly. When it came to character, local and state authorities in LA fell short of what was needed. It was their responsibility to rescue, feed and shelter their citizens. The federal government is a responder of last resort. If the locals had done their job, the loss of lives would been held to a minimum and there would have been far less chaos and property destruction. Is it all President Bush's fault? A moment's reflection would establish that the feds did what they could and the reason it wasn't as effective as it could have been isn't due to the lack of a federal response but simply because local and state authorities couldn't be relied upon to do the things they ought to have done in the first place. That is why the relief effort got off to a slow start.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".) When it came to character, local and state authorities in LA fell short of what was needed.They certainly were not up to the standard of leadership that California Governor Pete Wilson and Los Angeles Mayor, Richard, "The RINO", Riorden exhibited after the Northridge earthquake in the '90's. In all fairness, Katrina was much larger than the earthquake, but Gov. Blanco and the Mayor of New Orleans had plenty of warning, not so for Pete and Dick.