Louisiana did not reach out to a multi-state mutual aid compact for assistance until Wednesday, three state and federal officials said. As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.
As DD Blog and many others have pointed out, a state of emergency was declared on the Thursday before the hurricane arrived.
Those parts of the media who are actually exposed to the horror in New Orleans seem to be doing their jobs. Those back in DC, just following business as usual, continue to carry water without bothering to do the basic bit of legwork.