How did the memories of Hurricane Katrina influence the government response to Irene?

More than three million people along the Northeast are without power this morning as they continue to grapple with dangerous flood waters in the wake of Hurricane Irene this morning.

The U.S. government estimated that the cost from wind damage alone is expected to top $1 billion, with downed power lines leaving more than 4 million people without electricity.

Today on American Morning, Chad Sweet, former chief of staff for the Department of Homeland Security, joins Ali Velshi to weigh in on how the government is responding to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene.