Flight delayed because of no flight attendant

Date: 27 July 2013
Airline: Delta Airlines
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Flight: DL1352 (Salt Lake City, UT to Detroit, MI)

Our flight was delayed because a stewardess was pulled from our flight and put on a flight for Albuquerque, New Mexico. No replacement was made and consequently the Captain of the flight announced the problem shortly after the flight was to board.

A search was made for a substitute attendant but this was not done in a timely manner. We were just informed that an attendant should be at the gate by 2:15am! this means our flight will leave around 3:00am arriving in Detroit by 8am. This means a two and half hour delay!! This appears to be very poor management by Delta. This situation could have been avoided if appropriate action was taken as soon as the need for another flight attendant arouse. What procedures are in place for this problem which has impacted on over 140 unhappy passengers?