Re: Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans

"Jay Kadis" <jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:jay-4CA0F5.07453802092005@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Given the predictions of disaster that were available
> well before the hurricane hit the Gulf coast, one has to
> wonder why the recovery effort is so slow and
> uncoordinated.

I really hate to pick on the victims, but the same facts
lead to a different question - why were so many people still
hanging around? I believe I heard about like 20,000+ people
huddled in the Superdome. In a city with less than 500,000
population that's about 5% of the population in just one
building. There must have been like 25% of the population
just hanging around waiting to get wet.

The probability of flooding of the kind that happened in New
Orleans was well-known and well-documented for years. There
are few if any places in the US that are *more* likely to
experience catastrophic flooding of this severity,
pervasiveness and duration.

The strength and near-exact path of the hurricane was known
with reasonble accuracy for at least 3 days in advance.
People have been publicizing the probable outcome of a
hurricane like this for years and decades.

This is not an earthquake friends, it was train that
wrecked when it hit the wall at the end of the line which
has clearly visible on down the tracks for years.
Furthermore the figurative train stopped to let off
passengers dozens of times before it hit the wall, many
times with the wall so clearly visible it was casting a
shadow on the train. People at all levels had plenty of time
to consider dealing with the wall or getting off the train.

>In California, we have to deal with
> potential earthquakes, but even the most powerful of
> these will not cause the complete disruption of life that
> we see in New Oreans.

There is nothing as pervasive as water seeking its own
level, it would seem.

Earthquake and Tsunami victims deserve some sympathy because
they don't get 3 days of immenent, reliable warnings. The
Tsunami victims may get a few hours of warning, the tragedy
there being that warnings aren't always properly
disseminated.

> I hope this example of what we can
> expect from government leads more people to take
> emergency preparedness seriously.

There's a saying around the Great Lakes - if you don't want
to get your feet wet, don't live next to a lake. Ironically,
we've got a goodly numbers of visitors from NO just lately.
Maybe we can share some knowlege with them, along with
hospitality and help.

The history of New Orleans is not itself a picture of
charity. In 1927 the city fathers holed a levy and
intentonally flooded out 100's of thousands of their rural
neighbors so that NO wouldn't suffer with a flood

> Having spent a week in New Orleans several years ago, I
> cannot help but share the desparation of those folks
> still there and the sense of loss.

I hate to see people suffer, whether they could have helped
themselves or not.

..


.

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