There were reports that 20% of New Orleans police officers have walked off the job. There also was a report that Louisiana State Police assigned to go to New Orleans are resigning instead. It sounds like the relief from the local authorities is most lacking.

Without the violence in New Orleans, relief workers would have an easier time working.

And to think, if the Mayor had just ordered evacuation earlier, this may have been minimized a bit more. Just think, if the city busses had been used to evacuate those without cars, this might have been minimized. And to think that the evacuation order EXEMPTED hospitals because they were concerned about "liability" if someone was injured in the evacuation process. How much easier would it have been if all critical patients in New Orleans hospitals were evacuated to Baton Rouge, Lafayette, or places west ahead of time. And, at least in Florida and California, emergency services personnel have invested in necessary communications equipment for emergencies like hurricanes and earthquakes; why wasn't this done in New Orleans? They can't even talk to each other!

Things aren't working well; however, they are working about as good as can be expected. We are all told to have 5-7 days supplies in case of hurricane (earthquakes in California). We are only now in the fifth day. I know that many people were flooded out and their hurricane supplies didn't make it; however, that 5-7 day period is based on fact that it takes time to implement emergency relief efforts.

The New Orleans officials seem to be casting blame everywhere except on themselves. Why can't anyone take responsibility anymore? Bad things happen; it is how we handle them that matters.