Even prior to the landing of hurricane Isabel in September 2003, the National Guard was rescuing people and moving those who had no way to move themselves. The response to Isabel, as documented below, testifies well to the dubious nature of our lack of response to Katrina.
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:RLlf9pugDFwJ:news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm%3Ftid%3D980%26id%3D10
37902003+hurricane+isabel+%22national+guard%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a
"In Virginia, the National Guard had helicopters ready to rescue anyone stranded by floods, and more than 6,300 people packed into shelters."
"IN DELAWARE: The National Guard was activated, with about 100 troops standing by at armories and emergency operations centers. Officials worried that dunes at Indian River Inlet could be breached, flooding coastal U.S. 1."
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WEATHER/09/18/hurricane.isabel/
This article describes the National Guard saving people during the first stages of Isabel.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3731/is_200310/ai_n9313196
"Guardsmen went to work before the wind and rain subsided. They evacuated people from low lands
to shelters on higher ground. They helped police departments prevent looting. They provided clean water to communities with contaminated water systems."