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I guess my point is that there is nothing that FEMA could have done in advance of the storm that NO could not have done and done better. FEMA would have had to start from scratch whereas NO knew everything and everyone they needed to know to empty the city. NO's failure was not due to a lack of resources and, in advance of a storm, resources are all FEMa can offer. And its not like FEMA knew something that NO didn't know - they were both looking at the same radar images.
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FEMA, like the military, should have contingency plans prepared and if possible rehearsed, for every county in the country. If a flood hits St Louis, FEMA should have people designated to do what has to be done far in advance of the flood. Same for a Frisco quake.
There will always be surprises and unanticipated consequences but if they are prepared for the things that are anticipated and have their team in place they can respond to anything.
Like you said, there was plenty of warning for this storm. FEMA should have been massing the troops before it hit, not 3 days later. You don't wait for the shit to hit the fan before you put the contract out for bid.
Sure, the City of N.O. fucked up, but they have no authority outside the city limits. This sort of thing is regional not local. Even the state governor doesn't have juristiction over a large enough area.
