there were also widespread criticisms Judgment_communication and investigations Scrutiny of the emergency responses Response from federal , state and local governments , which resulted in Causation the resignations Change_of_leadership of federal emergency management agency ( fema ) director michael d. brown and new orleans police department ( nopd ) superintendent eddie compass .

the federal emergency management agency ( fema ) activated 11 of its urban search and rescue Rescuing task forces , consisting of 665 rescue workers who assisted in rescue and recovery operations .

later in december , president george h. w. bush declared Expressing_publicly the storm Catastrophe to be a major disaster , allowing Preventing_or_letting the federal emergency management agency ( fema ) to assist Assistance .