Let me say a couple things here.
First, Skydancer, thanks for contributing, it is appreciated.
Now as to all those who are complaining about the timing of the response. Here are some things to consider.
Number one get out of the idea that things happen instantly. That is all hollywood, the real life takes time.
Troops have to be mobilized, minimum of 24 hours to just get the damn order authorized and cut to the relevent units. Then during that time the troops have to GET THERE to the mobilization station. If there are no roads, or worse yet, the mobilization station is in the area of the disaster there is no place to mobilize and no equipment to mobilize with. The relevent troops are the National Guard for security and disaster relief. The troops and units in the area that are NOT on deployment overseas due to the troop draw down from earlier, are also effected by the disaster themselves. Some were killed, some are missing, some were evacuated by mandatory order. A major unit in NO is overseas. Secondly you have to have the right KIND of unit available in the area to do something. A civil affairs or psyops unit is not equiped or big enough to do a damn thing there. Posse Commitatis restricts the use of Federal troops for law enforcement. Even Federal troops on full time duty will take a while to get equipment loaded on the appropriate transport which may or may not be good enough to get them into the area, then get it there to do something.
The main roads around the city of NO (which is only ONE SPOT that has been trashed by the hurricane) are damaged or gone. Ground transportation has to use something to get there. When the bridge from I-10 was trashed a major artery in was almost totally cut and has to be evaluated to determine if loaded trucks can use it.
The fleet. Yep the navy has resources on the Eastern coast. Think about it. They have to sail there. Going long distances takes time for ships. Getting the right ones mobilized then transported takes time. Shipping material to the ships takes time. It isn't pre loaded on the boats with crews waiting to move at the speed of sound to deliver it. Then you have to have a freaking port to load large amounts of material. If the roads around the port are trashed how much are you going to deliver? The aircushion vehicles are not designed to travel in streets in neighborhoods to do rescues or spot deliveries especially when the streets are fouled with trees and other debris.
The shooting situation has stopped rescues. Think about it. The crews are there to rescue folks, shooting at them will NOT help them to do that. the gangs doing the rapes robberies and assaults are a major problem to getting help to people. THe "thin veneer" of civilization has already been dropped, if it was there at all for some of those hemorhoids, by these gangs and they are to blame for the cessation of rescues.
Now to everyone. Get off the blame band wagon and have a nice cup of STFU!!! If you want to do something send money to the relief organzation of your choice. Do not go down there, they need professionals and people with the proper equipment to be there to work, not a bunch of no skill no equipment geeks to clog up what roads there are and get in the freaking way.
I understand the governors and mayors frustration. They are in the hot seat and after giving the orders to do something all they can DO is hollar. That's their job to get more stuff, more equipment, more help. It's also all they can do now. They want to help but are out of resources of their own.
