That's why they call it federalism
Some people think that "federalism" refers to an all-powerful national government. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Beth rambles:
The notion that the Federal government has primary authority over cities and states [an error that any high school graduate should recognize] has slowly begun to fade from media coverage of Hurricane Katrina. In its place comes dawning realization of the massive failure of Louisiana and New Orleans to initiate their own disaster plans and to use their available assets to maintain control in New Orleans. Mayor Ray Nagin still hasn't done much to take responsibility for his own failures to follow his own detailed emergency response plan....
There is a great comment at blogsforbush.com stating clearly the way the government is supposed to function in the event of an unfortunate situation such as Katrina....
Quoting from Blogs for Bush, she continues:
The director of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (Major General Bennett C. Landreneau) failed to have any plan for a contingency that has been talked about for more than 50 years. Then, he blames the Feds for not doing what HE should have done. (So much for political appointees.)
Actually, the allegation is incorrect. Louisiana has a lot of plans:
State Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
Louisiana Amber Alert Plan
Louisiana Emergency Alert System
Emergency Support Functions -The Federal Response Plan
Federal Response Plan 2003
Sample Debris Plan
State Public Assistance Administrative Plan 04-05
Public Assistance Administrative Plan Annex A 04-05
State Hazard Mitigation Plan
Louisiana Model Daycare Emergency Plan
Louisiana Model Home Health Emergency Plan
Mosquito Vector Control Implementation Plan For Tropical Storm Allison (FEMA 1380-DR-LA)
Public Assistance Administrative Plan Addendum/Annex A/Obtaining State Funding
There's even a Southeast Louisiana Hurricane Evacuation & Sheltering Plan (PDF file, about 500 KB). Written in January 2000, it details three levels of evacuation (including mandatory evacuation). It also states, in detail, the responsibilities of the Governor, Adjutant General/Director Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness, and others. There are even procedures to follow regarding return to a risk area ("Are water and sewer services working properly?").
In short, Louisiana had a lot of procedures. How much these procedures were followed, or are being followed, is somewhat open to question.
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Thanks!