Sigh.

FEMA is a PLANNING agency. They make the plans and recommendations to the politicians and city governments. It is the FIRST RESPONDERS who are the people who go in, you know, first to help. They can only help carry out the plans to the extent that their officials will allow them the money to help. If it isn't there chances are good it's in the city coffers. (Saving it to spend on the Marathons? Probably not!)

It's a pity what has happened to those people. I suppose they could be some grateful that they aren't among the dead. They were given a whole week to prepare and/or leave the area. Parts of NYC are high and dry.

I think too many of us believe that science and money has conquered nature. That's what happens when you live in an environment of concrete and glass all your life.

I grew up in the heartland. We had snowstorms that lasted days - out of power for a week or more, snowdrifts higher than our doors and windows. No way possible to drive anywhere. And precious little help came from anywhere when it was all over with. We dug ourselves out. That was about it.

Don't remember anyone whining. We knew those storms could kill and were ready for them. Maybe there was some denial with the city folks that anything that bad could happen to them?

Forgot to mention that the people out there have voted strict guns laws. Now that they could use them to protect themselves and their property they are being told by their leaders that they will be prosecuted for doing so. We still need the Second Ammendment, if not to protect us from government then to protect us from those who like a lot of government.