I have to agree with Jay in this matter. The citizens of New Orleans and surrounding areas are not strangers to the devastation of hurricanes nor to their dependence on the strength of their levies.  The citizens were advised to leave, but many did in fact decide to tough it out. This was probably not the wisest decision in view of Florida's experience last year. I agree that much needs to be done to alleviate the resulting human condition, but I am not certain that the "politicians" are to blame. I do not think that this is a time to be assigning blame. I think a lot of it had to do with people's attachments to their homes.

When I was a kid I lived in Europe for a while (Istanbul). It gave me the opportunity to travel a little to the surrounding countries. I remember visiting Pompeii and Mount Visuvius. I am sure you are all familiar with the story of Pompeii's distruction by volcanic eruption. While I was there I heard an unbelievable story about one of the neighboring towns. It had been destroyed six or seven times over in successive eruptions of Visuvius, but the citizens kept rebuilding the town on the same site. I have to give them 100% for their tenacity, but I would really have to question the wisdom of their decision. I think the same may be true here, and those that chose to stay behind in New Orleans did not exercise the best judgment.

That being said, there is no sense in belaboring the wisdom of their decision. I think there is a monumental amount of aid that is required to assist those in need. However, Jay is right. Logistically you can not move that amount of supplies and medical teams/law enforcement personnel/utility workers over night...especially when much of it has to be organized in other states and  airlifted to areas in which only helicopters can land. The aid is enroute. It will increase accordingly, but it is going to take a little time to get there, especially to the more rural areas  to which communication and roads have been cut.