Taken directly from the Beaumont Enterprise newspaper-
FEMA official Russell Rickart, who withheld the generators, answering Judge Griffith, said "FEMA will not jump in until all local and state responses are depleted." "Federal government and fed assets are only brought to bear as a last result (sic)."
"Rickart said FEMA must assess each generator request thoroughly to insure the equipment goes to those who need it the most and that they can actually use it. A genrator that works for one building might not be suitable for another, he said."
"Judge Griffith said that some of the generators were freed up, but many still sat at the Ford Park site mid-day Monday" (today).

This shows that there is NO overall coordination of federal, state and local assets or supplies.

Azizi, I (an anti-Bush liberal), and I think Guest G (a Bush defender), will never accept anything from blog and opinion sites such as 'Penndit'. Another ax is thrown on the grindstone, to further fog the story. I don't know the politics of the Enterprise, but they seem to have a balanced report of the story. A site like 'Penndit" I discard out of hand.

It is true that FEMA has no local headquarters, although one or more of their representatives may be on hand to 'assist' or observe. I don't know where FEMA official Rickart was located

Personally, I find Rickart's response repulsive. Unless he, personally, could have evaluated need, he should have accepted the assessment of the local officials. Did he have the expertise to assess the generators? Would he have with him the electricians or engineers to assess the applicability of particular generators? The locals would have the benefit of on site engineers working for the city and state.
'All state and local responses are depleted"- this leaves nothing in reserve in the state for other possible needs, delaying response to any other emergency. Power outages could (and did) extend beyond the area affected by the winds and water of the hurricane.