One serious issue that has come to light in this and many other disasters is the fact that the Federal Government is by law hamstrung when it comes to disaster relief. They can't do anything until after the fact. They can plan and prepare for disasters, but when it comes to the actual disaster they can't DO anything until the disaster has happened. For instance, one of the best assets we have for evacuation WOULD be the military, however, the federal military cannot act within the US as a police force. The National Guard can, however most Governors wait until after the fact to call them out. A governor must request assistance from the US before the US can help.

One serious question:

New Orleans is on average 5'-10' below sea level in an area that is prone to hurricanes. Why rebuild it?