DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff is acting as if his Department never thought about a terrorist attack or natural disaster that would quickly overwhelm state and local capabilities and therefore require a strong, competent, and fast federal response. 

He is reported in the New York Times as saying that future "ultra-catastrophes" like Katrina would require a more aggressive federal response. 

Problem for Chertoff's effort to sweep his Department's miserable performance under the rug is that last January, his predecessor Tom Ridge announced with great fanfare a new 426 page National Response Plan. 

And if you flip through this 426 page document, you quickly realize that the Department of Homeland Security already had a plan for dealing with "ultra-catastrophes" (to use Chertoff's own lingo).   Guess what -- the federal government was supposed to take the lead role in saving lives.

On page 357 of the plan, DHS defines as an incident that "almost immediately exceeds resources normally available to State, local, tribal and private sector authorities in the impacted area."  It goes on say that "Federal and/or national resources are required to augment overwhelmed State, local, and tribal response efforts" and sets out procedures to "rapidly deploy key essential resources ... that are expected to be urgently needed/required to save lives and contain incidents." 

The plan goes on to say that the President is the person responsible for taking charge of the situation:  "All Federal departments, agencies, and organizations ... immediately begin implementation of those responsibilities as appropriate or when directed by the President."  (p. 360)

So, Secretary Chertoff, a strong federal role was anticipated being necessary for an "ultra-catastrophe."  The plan was in place.  It was the leadership that was lacking.   

For a full copy of the plan, see  http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_FullText.pdf

and click on the Catastrophic "Incident Annex"