Disaster Declarations
This is the wind map for hurricane Katrina. It records the areas impacted by hurricane force winds [Red] and those impacted by tropical storm force winds [Yellow].
The Three maps below represent the areas which will receive aid from FEMA. In the RED areas both people and local governments are eligible for assistance. In the YELLOW areas only the local governments are eligible for FEMA aid.
This shows the areas declared disaster areas by FEMA in Louisiana.
This shows the areas declared disaster areas by FEMA in Mississippi.
This shows the areas declared disaster areas by FEMA in Alabama.
The winds move in a counter-clockwise fashion around the eye. The northeastern quadrant is the worst part of the storm. To the west of the eye the strongest wind is from the North, which is why Lake Pontchartrain was pushed into New Orleans. To the east of the eye in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida the Gulf was being blown on shore. To the west the water was being pushed off shore.
While the map of aid to Mississippi is reasonable, Alabama is only receiving aid for counties impacted by hurricane force winds, and sections of Louisiana that received breezes from this storm got the maximum amount of aid available.
FEMA apparently has access to no maps of the United States, or no one with the ability to read a map. Anyone at the National Hurricane Center could have easily explained where the damage would be and where it would be safe to stage supplies.
I would have staged supplies along Interstate 20 at cities with intersections to major North-South roads: Shreveport, LA [I-49], Jackson, MS [I-55], and Birmingham, AL [I-59 & I-65]. Birmingham is the furthest North and would be the best choice for a main base.
Interstate 10 is not a dependable supply route. It crosses major bays, inlets, and rivers which are subject to being cut by storm surges. It is the road that is most apt to be blocked by debris. Anyone who has any geographical awareness of the Gulf Coast will tell you this.