But after Sandy, FEMA and city officials reasoned they could get homes fixed faster if the city hired contractors, coordinated repair requests, dispatched the workers and paid for it all directly.

WSJ: NYC post-Sandy home repair program passes 20K mark

Moreover, alternatives were tricky: Trailers, often used after other disasters, weren't workable for New York City, the FEMA official in charge of Sandy response here has said.

WSJ: NYC post-Sandy home repair program passes 20K mark

Late last year, NPR found that in many cases, FEMA trailers were available, but the City of New Orleans had failed to prepare sites for them.

NPR: FEMA Seeks Return of Temporary Trailers

After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Congress overruled FEMA's refusal to provide aid to damaged churches, they said, and after an earthquake in Seattle in 2002, the Justice Department stepped in and directed FEMA to assist religious organizations damaged by the quake.

WSJ: House clears disaster aid for houses of worship

And the city didn't know whether they are running things or FEMA was running things or the state was running things.

NPR: Rebuilding-Project Scholar Picked for New Orleans Job

Nagin said he expects relief efforts in the city to improve as New Orleans, the National Guard and FEMA combine their command centers for better communication, followup and accountability.

CNN: Mayor blasts failure to patch levee breaches

FEMA, through its regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Denton, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri, remains in close contact and coordination with our state and local partners in all of the areas affected by or potentially impacted by flooding.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

It took four years to get a FEMA decision on helping to pay for replacing Charity, yet during this period of indecision, the city and state public health systems built community-based clinics.

CNN: Today's New Orleans a tale of two cities