I would like to express my disgust at the remarks of Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, when he blamed the people of New Orleans for not heeding a mandatory evacuation order.

Many poor people in urban areas do not own vehicles, and no alternative transportation was provided for them. In addition, many were frail and infirm, and therefore unable to leave without assistance.

Maintaining the levees and providing for timely evacuation are the responsibility of government. The Bush administration has gutted the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers and rolled back protection of wetlands, which would have provided some buffer for the city. Too many National Guard troops have been sent to Iraq and are unavailable to help our citizens in crisis.

Michael Brown’s remarks are disgraceful, as is the overall situation in New Orleans.

Diana Cundy, Paris