1. The NHC was warning as early as Friday August 25th that New Orleans was likely to be close to the centre of the approaching Katrina. Why was the mandatory evacuation not ordered until Sunday, August 28th?
2. Most of those who braved the storm were forced to remain because they did not have the means to leave. What plans were made to ensure those without cars or enough money to buy a bus ticket out of town, were able to get to safer ground?
3. Were those plans implemented? If not, why not? If they were, why were there tens of thousands of people in the Superdome (and apparently the Convention Center) who say they could not evacuate?
4. As people entered the Superdome before the arrival of the hurricane, many told reporters they didn't evacuate because of the traffic or that they tried to evacuate but felt the traffic was so bad the might get caught on the road as the storm arrived. Was there enough use of the contraflow system? Were there enough routes out of town?
5. Was the failure of the communication system anticipated? If not, why? If it was, why did it take so long to establish reliable communications?
6. Why were the levee breaches such a surprise? Was there a plan to inspect the levees in the wake of the hurricane? Was that plan carried out?
7. Why did has it taken so long to get aid to survivors across the region?
8. What led to the breakdown in order? Is it because civil authorities were too permissive of looting? Is it (as has been rumoured) police officers deserted their posts? Is it because criminal gangs have replaced civil authorities as "the law" in New Orleans?
9. People (apparently in authority) instructed some people to go to the New Orleans Convention Center - as many as 20,000 may have followed that instruction. Based on a statement today from the city's mayor it appears he knew they were there, yet the FEMA director did not know the center was being used as a shelter until he learned about the situation from the news media. How is it that those trying to get aid into the city and eventually evacuate it were unaware of 20,000 people who followed the instructions of civil authorities?
10. Was this storm underestimated or were authorities simply not ready to deal with the reality of what was headed to the American Gulf Coast?

Again, I don't expect answers right away - authorities have better, more important things to do right now. But once the crisis subsides, Americans must have answers - and quickly.