Hmmm. Textbook case of making panicked decisions. FEMA over reacts because the weather predictors stated 2006 would be another bad hurricane season. Nothing hits and some of the food goes bad (the good was given to food banks after being separated from the bad).

If FEMA did nothing and nothing happened no one would know.

If FEMA does nothing and something happens you get the New Orleans/Gulf Coast area disaster.

If FEMA does something and nothing happens you waste $40 million.

If FEMA over-prepares, something happens and they can't get the supplies to people they look like useless gobs.

If FEMA over-prepares, something happens and they do get the supplies to people FEMA looks like heroes.

So, one neutral possibility, one good possibility and three bad possibilities. Odds are stacked against them looking good.

$40,000,000 is out of my level of comprehension. Is that a huge waste or a cheap (but unused) insurance policy? I don't know. Things definately could have been done better, but as my DW likes to say to me, "Cheap, fast, done right: pick two.". With the American breathing down their necks FEMA picked cheap and fast. As far as it being an insurance policy that wasn't used, in many ways that's good thing (I don't mind paying home insurance even if my house hasn't burned down).

End result: I learn that MRE's stored at 80F last three years but if stored at 120F (cooler than inside my car during Texas summer!) they last only one month. Hrpmf! That was an expensive way to let me know this.

Other lesson learned: Just having stuff doesn't mean you are ready. Know how to store/move/use it properly.

-Blast