Having been on the same sort of disaster planning committees, 999, and having served in a couple of disasters (floods), I quite agree.

In the first hours it is the local people and the local responders who will count the most. Here in the States it would take hours for the Governor to activate even a local National Guard unit, much less a state-wide response...assuming that the Governor isn't in a place that's also involved (e.g., earthquake, blizzard).

FEMA might be there 24 hours afterwards -- if the disaster isn't too widespread and if the Feds can realize the magnitude of the problem in that time and if the Governor has declared the area in a state of emergency and if....

I am in no way saying that FEMA should not exist. I am simply stating the facts: the local first responders and local citizens will be the first to take on a disaster. And three times three cheers for them!