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"..have to understand that a preparedness plan cannot count on any specific assets remaining in place after the storm passes"

Can anyone tell me why there weren't more boats, helicopters and supplies positioned 75-150 miles inland in secure structures ready to be redeployed to the ravaged area. I think I read that they even used NO as a mock up model for Homeland Security. But irregardless, it's as plain as the nose on anyone's face that either the leaders with the responsibility for that city's people had no feasible disaster plan or one hell of a piss-poor one. Haven't we all seen the picture of some 60 large school buses parked and surrounded by water. In the name of God Almighty, what in the world were they doing left there? I'll bet they could have brought out at least 2500 people! And they could have been parked somewhere safe after the exit so they could return to get those left behind.
Of course you can't count on assets left in place if you place them in harms way! But they could have been placed elsewhere. Corruption and ignorance (if not worse) are the keys to understanding the unfolding human catastrophe.

75-150 miles is too close for pre-positioned supplies, in my opinion.

In this storm the damage continued at least that far inland, but more importantly, you don't know what routes will be servicable after the storm. Too close, and you run the risk of your best route being destroyed, meaning you h then have to backtrack and go way around, typically through the damage swath.

Beyond that, you might ask FEMA, I'm just not the expert on this. Careful how you phrase your question. All the FEMA types I've dealt with had more of an "aura" than the Secret Service.

I agree with jeffers. We have a sales rep. 200 miles from the coast in Mississippi were they had extensive wind damage. Just heard from the rep. this morning, sept 1, and their chimney collapsed on their house from the wind gusts. No power until late in afternoon, and then went on & off sporadically. No gasoline for "hundreds of miles." Many abondoned vehicles on roads, trees blocking highways, power lines down, underpasses flooded, etc. Camp Shelby in MS was near the path of the storm as it moved inland. Not sure what damage they had there, but they did pre-position some heavy equipment there such as dump trucks, loaders, graders & generators.