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.

If we had this inadequate of a response to an event we were warned about, how much worse would it have been had it been a terrorist attack?

During the '70s, a long list of state, local and federal regulations came into being that cumulatively relegated too many Californians to a lifetime of renting.

In the last several years, the federal government has awarded some $11 billion in grants to federal, state and local authorities to improve emergency preparedness, response and recovery capabilities.

Some left because they simply couldn't handle the catastrophe.

[He noted that under the federal system, local police departments that want to be involved in immigration enforcement may go through a training process that allows them to become] deputies ... is further indication that Congress intended to preclude any local efforts which are unauthorized or based on other than federal law.