I would've used the California (not just S.D.) fires as a comparison between how rich, white, and property owner all equate to better public service with disasters.
The other angle never really occurred to me. So it's something else I'll have to think about.
Although I'll also point out one other flaw in a comparison in the Republican's are trying to make (my comparison of course is without flaw). California has more predictably these sorts of natural disasters so of course they get more "practice" with regards to public and government actions and reactions.
Whereas In New Orleans before Katrina many people suffered the same arrogance as Miami before Hurricane Andrew which was a cautiously optimistic denial and institutional amnesia (until it was too late to leave) that the Hurricane probably wouldn't hit there.
As I was told by a U of M official two days before Andrew hit after I asked if I should wait before completing my trip down. "Oh it's been decades since a hurricane hit here. It will veer away at the last minute as it's always done. Nothing to worry about."
The other element is simply the sheer level of poverty among many of NOLA's residents. Poverty=low tax base=fewer services.
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