If, if, if. Let's deal with the actual situation. Generally, the federal response has been magnificent. However, they were a day late and a dollar short in their initial response to the conditions in NO. It is something that should not be replicated in the next disaster.
DUH!!!
NOW---WHY were they so slow please???????
Again----because of the disastrous communication and performance at the state and local levels!
End of story.
Let's do; we have laws and regulations for a reason; because we've done it over and over on the east coast. And the way it's done it works.
You don't see any East coast governors standing around waiting to hear from the White House or FEMA to decide what to do to save their state.
And you sure as hell don't catch East Coast governors not returning the president's phone calls for 24 hours.
If you would give us your phone number, we can call you later in the week and you can be in charge of the next storm that's coming.
I'm sure you'd do a perfect job.
You all need to lighten up.
I am not prepared to concede, at this early point in the assessment of the local/state/federal response, that the feds were late or short at all. They may have been, and they may not have been. Most in this forum would prefer that no blame be ascribed to anyone at this stage, but that compassion and action go forward to bring as much relief as possible in this situation. It was not the right that started this blame scenario, but it having begun, we cannot retreat from it. I think there are enough unknowns for everyone to hold fire at this point.