People have died in this storm. Quite a few. A life is a life. The fact that the lives in Katrina were in a heavy left leaning city of course makes it more tragic for you. I have the same sympathies for people no matter geography and political leanings. I find it nice that the Bush bashers aren't out in force over Obama having the same reaction to this ice storm as Bush did to Katrina. Doc and others have noted how they did for themselves in that storm and survived, same as most people here. A lot of people in Katrina waited for government help and paid the price. Just because people here have done for themselves doesn't mean they are any less important than the people who sat on their hands during their disaster.
