I'm sure what you meant to say is that the funniest part of the Katrina debacle is that people have deeply-held confidence in Federal government. Local government is the front line - providing day in and day out. We're the first to respond after disaster. Even if there's a state declaration and the state helps. Even if there's a federal disaster and they help. When they pack up and leave, locals are still handling it. That's despite federal ability to borrow and local requirements for balanced budgets. Undeniable facts.

The local response to Katrina was amazing. On Friday, 8/26 at 5 PM Katrina was forecast to be a category 3 or more and New Orleans was in the projected path. That very day Louisiana declared a disaster, began its response and asked for a federal declaration. On Sunday, 8/27 Governor Richardson offered New Mexico National Guard troops, which Governor Blanco of Lousiana accepted, "but the paperwork needed to get the troops en route didn't come from Washington until late Thursday."

I am proud to be a local emergency manager. We've done so much for so many with so little for so long that it's all we know. FEMA used to be able to work miracles - even George Bush admitted that in the 2000 debates. They have to work miracles - FEMA is tasked with response and recovery when the disaster is beyond the capabilities of local government. Since 9/11 we've focused on counterterrorism at the expense of all-hazards mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Tragically, after Hurricane Katrina, a current FEMA official and Hurricane responder admits that, "It's such an irony I hate to say it, but we have less capability today than we did on September 11."