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FEMA can go in when an area is declared a FEDERAL disaster area. Our gov always asks for this declaration when hurricanes threaten us. Maybe Blanco didn't ask, but it is the President who makes such declarations.
I don't see where Ray Nagin can take much blame for what went wrong at all. He can't really make any sweeping declarations. In fact, the most he can do is report the levee status to the federal government, which he did a year ago when he begged for stronger levees. The money to do that was in Iraq, so it didn't happen.
Blanco can take some blame in that she didn't ask for a FEMA declaration, but it is the President who makes that declaration and he can do it if he's been asked or not.
What would happen if Blanco had been killed in the storm? Would we still be sorting out the paperwork to see if we could send in some post toasties?
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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet
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