First Responders

Very good insight
Damnation of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) for failure but also:

"...when you absolutely positively have to reestablish order and basic services in a matter of hours, it has to be a local response. The feds simply can't (or won't) move fast enough."

Amen

Layer on the information that the Governor was resisting the legal actions required for federal assistance as late as Friday night ...

Jeff Jarvis:
"Mayor Ray Nagin said he told the governor and the president to sit down and get their acts together. This is precisely what he meant. Note also that the mayor said he’d be happy to hand over authority to Gen. Russel Honore if that would get things done."


INTEL DUMP - -:

"Without a doubt, those local officials in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were immediately overwhelmed by this disaster. So we should not heap a lot of blame on their shoulders. They were, quite literally, swamped. However, we should evaluate mechanisms (such as the 'mutual aid' agreements between municipal and county police in California) that enable local governments to cooperate and support each other's consequences management needs without any involvement from the federal government. FEMA's great for bringing in resources — especially money to rebuild. And the President decides to send them, the military can set up field hospitals and refugee camps in a hurry. But when you absolutely positively have to reestablish order and basic services in a matter of hours, it has to be a local response. The feds simply can't (or won't) move fast enough."