[mumps]

Look, for a disaster the size of Katrina, the established response protocol is a federal one. That's why FEMA was created.

Katrina happened during Bush's watch, and with his appointees in place in the government departments with responsibility. That's the reality. That's just the way the political responsibility cookie crumbles. This is as true for the president of the United States as it is for the mayor of Mayberry. Is it always fair? No.

The point is to figure out what went wrong and to fix it. And if the sytem is not fixable, then the government should be honest with Americans and say: Look, if a catastrophic natrual disaster (the scale of a Katrina) or a catastrophic terrorist attack (the scale of a Hiroshima or Nagasaki) destroys your town/region, you are basically on your own. Get your ass in gear and move on. Don't look back.

[onyx]

Sorry, but the feds had to FIRST obtain permission from LA's governor, which she did not TIMELY grant.

[BigSkyFreeper]

FEMA is used as a last resort, generally when the state and local officials can't handle the crisis.

[McGavin999]

Katrina happened during Bush's watch, and with his appointees in place in the government departments with responsibility. That's the reality. That's just the way the political responsibility cookie crumbles. This is as true for the president of the United States as it is for the mayor of Mayberry. Is it always fair? No.

Hate to be the one to tell you this, but the rules are, the first 72 hours of a disaster, the locals are responsible. They are told to have 72 hours worth of supplies, water, ice, medical services etc. available. That's what homeland security money is for. Each state has received it. Each state is supposed to have plans which includes calling out the National Guard to assist if local law enforcement is overwhelmed.

[CedarDave]

Look at Florida the past two years... Six hurricanes, some with winds worse than Katrina at landfall. Damage in the multiple millions, probably billions. But yet all you hear about is New Orleans and Katrina. Think about why -- in Florida you had a disaster response infrastructure in place and ready to go, to help the locals get through the first 72 hours, then the Feds give assistance when requested.

In LA, you had neither of these -- the locals were unprepared to take charge for the first few days (indeed, they prohibited the Red Cross from entering the city!), and then refused offers of Federal aid from FEMA until the refugees in the Superdome and convention center had been without water and help, and were in dire need of emergency supplies of water just to survive. So all this and the levee failure was Bush's fault? More lies from the Slimes.