FEMA has been mobilized since Gustav hit in August, so keep that in mind. There have been 3, count them, 3 disasters (publicized) that have hit so FEMA volunteers are spread a little thin. Want to know about some others?

That National Guard cannot do everything nor are they allowed. They have a mission but only when mobiilzed by the Governor of the State. If the Governor does not activate or mobilize, the state's National Guard cannot do anything (that's what happened in Louisiana during Katrina. The Governor failed to mobilize.)

FEMA is a FEDERAL agency and each state is sovereign. They call FEMA, FEMA does not automatically step in until asked.

FEMA was revamped after 9-11 and the authority was given back to each STATE to decide what and how to run their own disasters. Each state has their own department of Homeland Security and each state may have a different type of administration for Homeland Security. In Idaho all Emergency Services are under one Department, one point of contact. In other states they may be under different departments and lots of communication between agencies is required.

Don't blame FEMA. There are also a lot of other agencies involved including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way (to name just 3) and these agencies do not communicate/coordinate with one another.

*backing out of the room now*