Was there enough active duty military (and equipment) available?

[Skwmom]

The press keeps asking if there was enough available NG to handle Katrina. However, the active duty military is also a very valuable resource in such a situation. They have the manpower (including highly trained special forces) and the equipment and could have rapidly deployed to New Orleans.

If a major terrorist attack was to hit, I do not believe the NG alone (even if they were all home from Iraq) could handle the situation.

[chelsea0011]

1. i saw it reported that half the guard equipment is overseas.

So the equipment is not there, but in Iraq.

[Skwmom]

2. Yes the guard has equipment but so does the active duty military.

Equipment is a very broad term. For example, even with their equipment at home would the NG have had enough helicopters and trained personnel to rescue people from rooftops?

[artemisia1]

3. Yes, but they needed ORDERS; orders that could only come from

the Federal authorities. Hint: the President.

[Skwmom]

4. I know they need orders but was there a problem with the right

active duty resources being unavailable because they were in Iraq. Looking at total numbers deployed and state side doesn't really mean that much.