I think that the evacuation problems were 100% the fault of the Mayor of NO., And the governor of LA. If it were not for GW and the NWS then even more people would have died.
However I also believe that a plan should be put in place so that the federal government can respond more quickly in the relief effort. I think they were kind of slow to get in there. It is ceartin that they could have got in there quicker to put down looting and barbarism, and even to pluck people out of there houses and move them to another place...even if it were a tent city. Of course the State would have to support this 100% or all bets would be off. I think it would be dangerous to say that responded quick enough, because they did not for whatever reason. We definately need a better plan and preperation to respond more quickly to this kind of disater. But one thing is for sure. You really can't blame GW for this one.
The first units from the federal government were in New Orleans the same day the hurricane hit. That was Monday. The levees were breached very early in the morning on Tuesday. When the sun came up, only then was the full extent of the devastation known. By Thursday FEMA's first convoy of 500 buses and other emergency units were at the Superdome and the first evacuees were in Houston. That's two days! The response kept building from there.
Personally, I believe people's expectations at a time like this are totally unrealistic.
They couldn't do all those things that you suggest because the Governor didn't give permission for the feds to come in!