HayGan
We could all use some pixie dust now and then :)<b
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2004
- Messages
- 8,798
I've been thinking about the events leading up to, during and after Hurricane Katrina and I really need to put them down (well, most of them in one place.)
* There is no way possible to evacuate 1+million people from an area in less than 48 hours. No number of buses, planes, trains, and automobiles could have gotten everyone out even if they all wanted to.
* Anyone (and I mean ANYONE - rich, poor, young and old) living in an area prone to hurricanes (and other natural disasters) should have their own plans set up in the case of an emergency. Not only does that mean trying to evacuate if you can but it also means simple things like having a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery powered radio and food/water supplies put away. All things that can be purchased for less than $5 and could be lifesaving. Keep a couple of empty bottles and fill them up every couple of months with clean water. (Hey, many of us do it and we don't even live in a hurricane zone.) BTW, we were instructed by the Dept. of Homeland Security to do this many years ago.
* Some people stayed behind because they couldn't get out and others stayed behind because they didn't want to get out. That is the truth - like it or not.
* There were 100,000+ people in NOLA when Katrina hit. You can't possibly get that many people out by limited means in 5 days. (BTW, Katrina only made landfall a little over 5 days or 120 hours ago.) It would be hard enough to get them all out if they were in one place but they are stranded all over hundreds of miles.
* The thugs that have been going around looting for non-necessities, terrorizing other stranded people as well as rescue workers, raping and murdering other people have set the rescue effort back tremendously. While my heart breaks for those who are suffering because of those thugs, I can't blame any agency (government or private) for not sending in more help when their very lives are at risk from this type of danger.
* I believe that no one was prepared to handle the level of devistation that occured after Katrina was gone from the coast. I honestly don't know how you can plan for something of this magnitude.
* I believe that the rescue agencies are doing the best they can under these unbelievable conditions. How do you get millions and millions of gallons of water, million lbs.of food, pieces of equipment, thousands of blankets/cots/clothing articles, vehicles all in to an area whose infrastructure has been practically wiped out in such a short period of time. It is impossible, IMHO!
* The levee system in NOLA has been know for many years to be a problem. It isn't this administration's fault nor is it the fault of the previous 4 or 5 administrations that knew of the same dangers. You can point all you want at the current administration for cutting back funds but in no way shape or form could it have prevented this tragedy. Recreating or shoring up the levee system would have taken many years and more that $30 million! I wish that people would stop grasping at straws with this.
* NOLA and the rest of the Gulf Coast was a disaster waiting to happen. Population living below sea level and on the coast with no geographical barrier helping to protect from storms of this magnitude are going to be destroyed on a regular basis. It is well known that due to the Earth's weather patterns, hurricane seasons are likely to intensify for several years every 40 or so years. Look at the late 60's and early 70's. There is nothing we can do about it but accept it and try our best to plan for it.
* I absolutely hate that some people are trying to play the race card with this. Guess what, our country helped out with billions in aid to the tsunami zone and less than 1% of the people killed in that tragedy were white. Just because most of the faces that we see on TV have a darker skin color doesn't mean that they aren't seen as human beings. Yes, most of the people at the convention center are black but guess what so are most of the people at the Astrodome and the dozens of other shelters that have been put up all over the South. It isn't a black/white thing!
* I think whoever decided that they should put huge floating casinos in this area should have his/her head examined. You live in a hurrican zone. Why on earth would you put these massive floating missiles in such a place?!?!?!
* I think NOLA and some of the Gulf Coast should be rebuilt but no where to level that it was in the past. This same sceanrio could be repeated over and over again. My idea for NOLA is to scale back the city; try to design a better system which would be able to withstand larger systems. Don't put so many people in a bowl. We can and should limit development. NOLA is of vital importance to our nation and it can still be that with a 1/3rd of the people.
* I think everyone bears some responsibility in this situation. While I believe that the local, state and federal governments have certain responsibilities in protecting their citizens, I also believe that people have to take responsibility for themselves as well. I am so tired of the attitude that it is always someone else's fault.
* Everyone involved in this situation is human. Humans make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes cost others their lives. Sad but true.
Hindsight is 20/20. I think that there are so many lessons that will be learned from this tragedy. I just wish we could have learned them some other way.
I know that many will disagree with what I have said and I respect your right to do so.
BTW, one last thing (and of very little if any importance). Kanye West can rant and rave all he wants but I think it is very funny that he can do all that complaining and didn't think until he was on TV last night in front of millions of people of calling his business manager to see how much he could donate. Geez, you think you could have thought of that before Kanye? Yeah, we should listen to you and your opinions since they were so well thought out
* There is no way possible to evacuate 1+million people from an area in less than 48 hours. No number of buses, planes, trains, and automobiles could have gotten everyone out even if they all wanted to.
* Anyone (and I mean ANYONE - rich, poor, young and old) living in an area prone to hurricanes (and other natural disasters) should have their own plans set up in the case of an emergency. Not only does that mean trying to evacuate if you can but it also means simple things like having a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery powered radio and food/water supplies put away. All things that can be purchased for less than $5 and could be lifesaving. Keep a couple of empty bottles and fill them up every couple of months with clean water. (Hey, many of us do it and we don't even live in a hurricane zone.) BTW, we were instructed by the Dept. of Homeland Security to do this many years ago.
* Some people stayed behind because they couldn't get out and others stayed behind because they didn't want to get out. That is the truth - like it or not.
* There were 100,000+ people in NOLA when Katrina hit. You can't possibly get that many people out by limited means in 5 days. (BTW, Katrina only made landfall a little over 5 days or 120 hours ago.) It would be hard enough to get them all out if they were in one place but they are stranded all over hundreds of miles.
* The thugs that have been going around looting for non-necessities, terrorizing other stranded people as well as rescue workers, raping and murdering other people have set the rescue effort back tremendously. While my heart breaks for those who are suffering because of those thugs, I can't blame any agency (government or private) for not sending in more help when their very lives are at risk from this type of danger.
* I believe that no one was prepared to handle the level of devistation that occured after Katrina was gone from the coast. I honestly don't know how you can plan for something of this magnitude.
* I believe that the rescue agencies are doing the best they can under these unbelievable conditions. How do you get millions and millions of gallons of water, million lbs.of food, pieces of equipment, thousands of blankets/cots/clothing articles, vehicles all in to an area whose infrastructure has been practically wiped out in such a short period of time. It is impossible, IMHO!
* The levee system in NOLA has been know for many years to be a problem. It isn't this administration's fault nor is it the fault of the previous 4 or 5 administrations that knew of the same dangers. You can point all you want at the current administration for cutting back funds but in no way shape or form could it have prevented this tragedy. Recreating or shoring up the levee system would have taken many years and more that $30 million! I wish that people would stop grasping at straws with this.
* NOLA and the rest of the Gulf Coast was a disaster waiting to happen. Population living below sea level and on the coast with no geographical barrier helping to protect from storms of this magnitude are going to be destroyed on a regular basis. It is well known that due to the Earth's weather patterns, hurricane seasons are likely to intensify for several years every 40 or so years. Look at the late 60's and early 70's. There is nothing we can do about it but accept it and try our best to plan for it.
* I absolutely hate that some people are trying to play the race card with this. Guess what, our country helped out with billions in aid to the tsunami zone and less than 1% of the people killed in that tragedy were white. Just because most of the faces that we see on TV have a darker skin color doesn't mean that they aren't seen as human beings. Yes, most of the people at the convention center are black but guess what so are most of the people at the Astrodome and the dozens of other shelters that have been put up all over the South. It isn't a black/white thing!
* I think whoever decided that they should put huge floating casinos in this area should have his/her head examined. You live in a hurrican zone. Why on earth would you put these massive floating missiles in such a place?!?!?!
* I think NOLA and some of the Gulf Coast should be rebuilt but no where to level that it was in the past. This same sceanrio could be repeated over and over again. My idea for NOLA is to scale back the city; try to design a better system which would be able to withstand larger systems. Don't put so many people in a bowl. We can and should limit development. NOLA is of vital importance to our nation and it can still be that with a 1/3rd of the people.
* I think everyone bears some responsibility in this situation. While I believe that the local, state and federal governments have certain responsibilities in protecting their citizens, I also believe that people have to take responsibility for themselves as well. I am so tired of the attitude that it is always someone else's fault.
* Everyone involved in this situation is human. Humans make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes cost others their lives. Sad but true.
Hindsight is 20/20. I think that there are so many lessons that will be learned from this tragedy. I just wish we could have learned them some other way.
I know that many will disagree with what I have said and I respect your right to do so.
BTW, one last thing (and of very little if any importance). Kanye West can rant and rave all he wants but I think it is very funny that he can do all that complaining and didn't think until he was on TV last night in front of millions of people of calling his business manager to see how much he could donate. Geez, you think you could have thought of that before Kanye? Yeah, we should listen to you and your opinions since they were so well thought out
