1)Local governments should take a larger role than they have in the past during a disaster. Evacuation preparedness, getting necessities ready (food, clothing, toiletries), and emergency communication systems are instrumental. State governments should be in charge of communicating with the federal government, organizing the local response systems, and commanding the entire operation. The federal government should be responsible for commanding FEMA, sending in troops, and backing up supplies. They also need to be in communication with both the state and the local governments.
2) The local goverments had the most immediate reaction because they were right there - rescuing, relocating, giving medical attention. The state governments weren't quick enough or specific enough in getting in contact with the government and asking for supplies, but they did give a little help by sending some of their own. Once they did, the national government delayed in sending their resources and troops, and in some cases (like New Orleans) they didn't send nearly enough. The feds also reported everything was under control when that was nowhere near being true.
3) The federal government needs to take a much more active role in the funding, prevention, and response to natural disasters. State and local governments simply don't have the resources that the national one does. FEMA is a government agency, but it either doesn't have or doesn't use the might of our government. The federal government should give funding and strength to FEMA, and the feds and the agency should always work as a unit when responding to a disaster.