You left out the part where the mayor of New Orleans actually had the means (and a plan) to get the infirm and the elderly out of harm's way, yet chose to do nothing until after the fact.  Don't believe me?  Look at the footage of all those city school busses sitting with flood waters up to the windows.

And while we're on the subject, why did they house everyone at the Superdome where there was no food or water?  The plan had called for housing the evacuees (they're not refugees in the true sense of the word) in various city schools which were above flood stage.

The simple fact of business is that we all knew at least four days in advance that the hurricane, yet the local and state governments chose to do nothing.  Now they're mad at the federal government (read "President George W. Bush") because they didn't invoke dictatorial powers by usurping the authority of those local and state governments?

Give me a break.