In contrast to Hurricane Katrina, there was a greater response to the Joplin disaster by local assets in lieu of federal ones. The results are startling. A year after Katrina there was widespread criticism of the failed recovery and rebuilding efforts of FEMA resulting in congressional investigations and excoriating media coverage. A year after the Joplin tornado, business tax revenues were up, 95 percent of students were back in school and the overwhelming majority of displaced residents had secure lodging at or near the area.

Why do you believe there was such a stark contrast in the results ? Was Joplin, MO more resilient than New Orleans was before, during and after Hurricane Katrina?