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"We have individuals who are getting raped, we have individuals who are getting beaten," Compass said. "Tourists are walking in that direction and they are getting preyed upon."

I thought the US wouldn’t really see any aid from other countries, with the exception of the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

An emergency team of 20 Australian experts could depart almost immediately, Prime Minister Howard says.

"We haven't been approached but we have approached the Americans," Mr Howard told ABC radio.

Mr Howard said Australia was still waiting to hear back from the Americans.

"There should not be an assumption that because America is the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world this isn't a major challenges and a major crisis," he said.

"You only have to see the scenes of devastation on television."

Mr Howard said Australia had expertise in disaster relief which would be of practical help in the US.

- AAP

The flooding of New Orleans makes me wonder how in the world a more robust system of levees wasn't built in this day and age. This is a major city in the United States with significant cultural and economic contributions to the country. The fact that it has been so devestated is surprising, to say the least. The human tragedy is unspeakable.

I'm sick and tired of the media's treatment of the Katrina relief efforts. I run a trade association of tank truck carriers trying to assist in the relief efforts by transporting food and potable water. I'm in regular contact with many of the companies, and here are some "on the ground" facts:
1) Large trucks (80,000 lbs. gross weight) almost always have to use the Interstates. For trucks attempting to come in from outside the area, most of those roads (approaching the disaster area) are either closed or have bridges out. The so-called secondary roads may be somewhat passable, but their bridges (over rivers and streams) are not built to sustain such loads. Simply stated, you can't get there from here.

2) Trucks domicled in those areas (because that's where the companies traditionally serve customers) are still underwater, thus the equipment is not accessible;

3) Nobody in their right mind is going to take loads of gasoline and fuel oil into a city controlled by unfriendly folks carrying automatic weapons. A tank truck loaded with 8,000 gallons of gasoline can produce a very impressive fire;

4) Those local trucking companies can't contact their drivers. There's no power, thus (even) cellular is unavailable, and many of the drivers homes (in places like Kenner, Slidel, Metarie, etc) have been destroyed and families dispersed. I have one member with about 120 drivers and mechanics in that immediate area. To date, management has been able to contact 12. Those in the National Guard have been mobilized and are not available to drive.

5) Pumps -- needed to load the vehicles -- don't work because there's no power;

they knew it would happen, and they didn't finish the public works project (levee project) that was started 40 years ago.

not prepared for something they knew would eventually happen.

didn't react quick enough to something they knew would eventually happen

failed to direct all rescue agencies from the get go with something they knew would eventually happen.