“Our current system is inadequate for a catastrophe of this magnitude. This has simply overwhelmed local, state and federal systems. We need a new approach when we're confronted with a natural disaster or, I would say, a terrorist attack that has these kinds of consequences.”
“Vice Admiral Thad Allen is a strong choice, ... He is a highly respected leader who should be very effective in improving the coordination of assistance for the hundreds of thousands of individuals and their families who were affected by the hurricane.”
“[With billions of dollars to boost disaster preparedness at all levels of government,] we would have expected a sharp, crisp response to this terrible tragedy, ... Instead, we witnessed what appeared to be a sluggish initial response.”
