That is like the LSP turning away the technicians to fix the New Orleans trunked radio system. The state is closed, sorry, it's all George Bush's fault.
Critical difference:
While NY took a substantial hit, it had a disaster recovery plan and workers for the various telephone companies, Con Edison, Brooklyn Union gas, etc, had been integrated and trained to operate within the emergency plan, in co-operatin with the NYPD, FDNY and various Federal agencies. Whatever wasn't worked out beforehand was improvised on the spot.
There were emergency drills prior to 9/11 and they have continued to this day, incorporating all the lessons learned.
New Orlean's (and the state of Louisiana's)plan for anything seems to have been to pray really hard for the storm (or other disaster) to hit anyplace else, and if it didn't, vacillate until it was too late to do anything.
And let's not forget the actions of New Yorkers on that day. There wasn't widespread looting, rioting, or reported rape gangs, and no one was shooting at the rescue workers trying to get thousands out of burning buildings.
You wanna know what's wrong with the entire response to Katrina in LA? Start looking at the citizens of New Orleans and the political leadership of the state, or rather lack thereof.