[techweenie]

I didn't see anyone here *****ing about FEMAs policies when Florida was helped out.

But now that it's Louisiana and Mississippi, I hear that FEMA shouldn't be helping, or people shouldn't expect it to help?

WTF do all these folks pay taxes to the Feds for? FEMA was helpful to me after the '94 quake. They set up a loan for me to repair damage to my house. They were very visible and efficient. I was so impressed with them that I sent a 'thank you' letter.

FEMA failed in Louisiana and Mississippi -- failed to do anywhere near the job they did in several past Florida hurricanes. BUT, their response was comparable to the first big hurricane they had to deal with in Florida: slow. It seems they have no serious pre-disaster planning, but just feel their way along with each state infrastructure as needed.

I don't think anyone has said that all citizens should depend on FEMA -- although that's the way the apologists for this administration are trying to spin it. But in any hierarchy, the highest authority (with the greatest resources) is going to have to take some responsibility for all the government relief efforts the taxpayers *thought* they were paying for. So NO and LA are making FEMA look bad. And on top of that, FEMA looks like it's being mismanaged by yet another recipient of political welfare.