New Orleans Chaos Destroys Confidence In Emergency Plans; Officials Too Complacent?; "Lack of imagination' seen limiting nation's readiness to handle huge disasters.(A)

Byline: JED GRAHAM

As chaos reigned in flooded New Orleans on Thursday, the complexity of the disaster continued to thwart rescue workers despite a government-wide mobilization.

On a day that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had to halt some operations amid gunfire, officials said National Guard and active-duty military personnel sent to the devastated Gulf region would reach 50,000 soon.

Congress returned to Washington early for a quick vote on President Bush's $10.5 billion request for immediate disaster relief. Bush also tapped his father and former President Clinton to lead a fund-raising drive.

The havoc wreaked by Katrina over 90,000 square miles -- 1 million homeless in Louisiana alone and over 100,000 still to evacuate -- is an unprecedented test of the nation's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Some experts see cause for concern.

Ready For The Worst?

The issue isn't the government's ability to mobilize and deliver aid efficiently to those whose lives have been turned upside down.