New Orleans

[GAsux]

I can address the military aspect. In terms of medical relief, search and rescue, and local transport the military was and is actively invovled. In terms of getting "heavies" in there to transport large numbers of people out, there's no where for them to land. You're still looking at having to bus them hours out of the area to a location you can fly in and out of. There's still the issue of where to put all the refugees too.

As for the law enforcement aspect, active duty folks are prevented from engaging in civil police matters outside military installations. Hence not seeing any active duty military folks being brought in to police the streets. The Guard units will have to do the bulk of the work in terms of restoring order.

I've been to New Orleans several times. I can understand given the relative poverty that most folks in the area live in along with the geography that no matter how many resources you mobilize it's going to be a long haul. As long as there is 10 feet of water on the ground you aren't going to be able to restore basic services. In addition, it will likely take days to clear roads, not to mention figure a way in and out via the 10 which is virtually the only major thoroughfare in and out of the city as it's been completely destroyed in some places.