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I'm sorry for what has happened to your area. I have relatives who live in New Orleans. Now many of them live with other family members in Georgia. They are not happy with their situation, but even they know that the main problem in New Orleans was not FEMA.

As I've already said, FEMA is not perfect, but they have to have something to work with. Louisiana has given them very little to work with and has in some cases hindered their work and the work of other relief organizations. It's unfortunate that so many of those whose duty was to protect you failed.

I think it is also unfortunate that New Orleans has taken on the position of squeaky wheel and is now getting much of FEMA's attention. Alabama and especially Mississippi were also hit hard, but due to the monumental failure of Louisiana, those other states have to suffer now.

When Andrew, a category 5 hurricane, hit south Florida 13 years ago, FEMA was even slower than they are today. They have improved quite a bit since then and the four hurricanes we suffered, including the cat 4 in Punta Gorda and Ivan in the Pan handle, were a challenge for FEMA. But they had help from the ground level. We worked together -- FEMA with state, county and city emergency mgt teams. There were communications difficulties and logistics concerns, but we locals did a lot of work taking care of those. Our law enforcement performed above and beyond what was required and everyone helped his neighbor. We are still working to rebuild in many areas, but for the most part, we have recovered.

We have a tropical storm sitting off our coast right now which is all par for the course down here this time of year.

I know it looks bad when you are sitting in the middle of it. But I am glad that you are alive and able to participate here on Free Republic. May God bless you. You and your neighbors are in our prayers.