>>>The religious volunteer organizations did a terrific job. As did the Coast Guard. You're right, it wasn't an across the board disaster. For that, the federal government was needed ;-(
>>
>>FYI, EPA is a Federal Agency (as is the Coast Guard), and our part of the response was exemplary as I pointed out. For the response debacle, you get to spread that out across all levels of gov't, including the State and New Orleans gov'ts.
>
>Point take about the Coast Guard. (For some reason it doesn't seem like part of the federal government. Maybe because it's not one of the deskbound agencies?) And there was plenty of blame to go around among government agencies at all levels, as "When the Levees Broke" amply showed.
>
>Before I say another word, do you work for the EPA? I vaguely recall that you do, or did.

You should say "another word" whether I work for EPA or not (and yes I do, for the last 20 years now). I know first hand what our group of responders did, and nothing anyone can point to will change that fact. So you won't hurt my feelings.

I spent 4 weeks on the north side of Ponchartrain from mid-January through mid-February leading one of many teams in follow-up inspections of over 200 water systems. Many of the people I work with left for the affected area right after the hurricane passed through (they also got to temporarily evacuate for Rita). It is a very short drive from Dallas to where they had to go. They were stationed in Livingston (between Baton Rouge and Hammond). Others from our Region went toward New Orleans and were actually conducting rescue efforts from boats (we don't have helicopters). Even though that was not their initial mission, these responders had no "issues" with our management in temporarily deviating from missions either. That is the beauty of the ICS.