[fintstone]

There are lots of competing interests for federal dolars and attention. I guess it just depends on how much you are willing to spent to always be ready to bail out folks who choose to live in places where natural disaster is likely. People/local governments need to be held responsible for the choice they make...and they should be the ones who take care of mergency planning/management for problems unique to them/their area. Living on the coastline, below sea level is a choice you can make, but why would one expect the folks who choose a bit wiser to be prepared to bail them out at a moments notice. If the folks do make the choice to live in these places, a little local planning and preparation would go a long way. For example, folks who live in the middle of North Dakota don't wait until there is a blizzard and start whining for the government to immediately provide snow plows, heating oil, parkas, thermal underwear, and the military. They are prepared..have generators and food, water, and medicine stocked up, weapons to protect themselves, etc. Local emergency workers handle most problems....as they should.