The debacle over how poorly the federal government has handled the Katrina disaster is not a "Flame." Its a real story with real implications for all of us. We should all be paying close attention to what's happening. It could be any of us.

The practice of emergency management is a well developed field of endeavor. It requires extensive training and certifications. It focusses heavily on planning and preparedness. The practice subscribes to a time tested methodology intended to save lives and expedite the process of getting disaster victims back on their feet.

We know disasters will strike. We know we can't stop them from happening. But we can be prepared to respond when they do happen to have stocks of water and food ready for distribution, national guard troops deployed and ready to act, and temporary housing planned and ready for those left homeless. This is where the federal government failed. They were simply absent prior to the storm hitting the Gulf Coast. They are now playing catch up.

There are a huge host of reasons for this failure. I am sure these will be discussed in the coming weeks and months. I have my own opinions why and contrary to what some posters here assert, my opinions have nothing to do with partisan politics.

Be that as it may, I am angry about what we are witnessing unfold before our very eyes. What borders on rage is having the knowledge that a great deal of the chaos and death we are observing could have been avoided if our federal government had not been asleep at the switch.