Where did you hear them say that they spent billions on a correctaable answer? Where did you hear there are answers?
Hell the mayor of San Fran came out yesterday and said if an earthquake with the same effect that this hurricane hit. That people should even expect to se local help for 72 hours and longer for the state and federal to mobilize and get in there.
Samething was said in DC yesterday, and this is where everyone is HQ'ed. They said expect at least 48 hours for help.
DO you make this stuff up as you go or are you listening to your academic teachers who never figured out how to do, so they teach and lecture, but no real world experience?