Glenn Harlan Reynolds

This weekend’s kerfuffle over visits to storm-wracked Louisiana illustrated two important points: One is that you can rely on politicians — and the press — to act political. The other is that when trouble comes, you and your neighbors had better be ready, because the government doesn’t have your back.

On the political front, a piece in The Hill noted a typical double standard: When then-President George W. Bush flew over New Orleans in Air Force One, but didn’t land, during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he was roundly denounced as aloof, uncaring, and out-of-touch. But last week, when President Obama chose to stay on Martha’s Vineyard, and play golf and fund-raise after a storm dumped three times as much rain as Katrina on Lousiana, causing devastating and widespread floods, the press largely gave Obama a pass, something especially notable given how Obama had savaged Bush on that topic.

Meanwhile, Republican nominee Donald Trump visited Louisiana and helped unload a truck full of aid supplies before visiting victims. Hillary phoned the governor but then headed to the Vineyard herself. Sure, at least some federal help is already on the ground in Louisiana, but the Obama administration irked many Louisianans by sending along with it a memo warning them not to engage in racial discrimination during rescue and recovery operations.

Under pressure from Trump, Obama announced that he’d visit on Tuesday, after his vacation. But the folks in Louisiana, while perhaps grateful for the attention, would probably rather have more help.

In the meantime, they’ve been helping themselves. A collection of boat-owning volunteers called the ”Cajun Navy” has been rescuing people and transporting supplies, using Facebook to coordinate their efforts. As one said, "In South Louisiana, we don’t wait for help, we are the help.”

That’s a good approach, because the history of major disasters suggests that it’s a mistake to expect help to come very soon. We’ve seen this over and over again, and not just with Katrina.

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After the 9/11 attacks in New York, when things were paralyzed, an impromptu navy composed of ferryboats, tugboats, and other maritime professionals, along with ordinary citizens in pleasure boats evacuated survivors and brought supplies in.

People at Ground Zero, the Manhattan Waterfront, nearby New Jersey, Staten Island and Brooklyn waterfronts, and crews on the numerous vessels repeatedly used the phrases "just amazing," "everyone cooperated, and "just doing what it took" to describe maritime community responses. Individuals stepped up and took charge of specific functions, and captains and crews from other companies took their direction. . . . Private maritime operators kept their vessels onsite and available until Friday, Day Four, when federal authorities took over.

“Day Four, when federal authorities took over.” That says it all, doesn’t it? Likewise in New Orleans after Katrina. Although Democratic leader Donna Brazile later admitted that George W. Bush in fact did all that could be expected after Katrina, people still waited a long time for help to arrive.

And after New York and New Jersey experienced Hurricane Sandy, it looked like Katrina On The Hudson. Relief was slow, gas shortages were made worse by Gov. Chris Christie’s economically illiterate assault on “price gouging,” and FEMA’s performance, according to Rudy Giuliani, wasn’t any better than under Bush and Katrina.

Well, the truth is that it’s better to be the help than to wait for help. There’s one group of first responders that’s always on the scene at every disaster — the people who are already there. After a disaster, roads are likely to be blocked, power lines are likely to be down, and it’s likely to be days or weeks before outside help arrives in any quantity.

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That means ordinary Americans need to be ready to deal with things on their own. The Federal government is pushing preparedness next month, but you don’t need to wait. You should have enough food, water, and medicine for at least a week, battery-powered lights and radio, tools, and other necessary supplies. You should also consider Community Emergency Response Team training to help you gain the necessary skills.

Bad things happen. When they do, don’t wait for help. Be the help. It’s an attitude that’s not just for Cajuns.

Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a University of Tennessee law professor and the author of The New School: How the Information Age Will Save American Education from Itself, is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors. Follow him on Twitter @Instapundit.

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