SamSaid!

HURRICANES

     Long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, hurricanes ravaged the coastlines of the Caribbean Islands the the Southeast quadrant of the USA. The big storms went their way almost unnoticed since the land was largely unpopulated and almost totally undeveloped. The damage, however severe, was largely unknown and unrecorded. And in earlier times when we did not have ultra sophisticated bureaucrats, the simplest advice about hurricanes was to “get out of the way”, not “come and rescue me”. Then modern man discovered those wonderful coastlines and thought about the benefits of benign weather. Now, of course we have millions of people living in very dangerous areas near the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Mother Nature came calling last week along the US coastline in the Gulf of Mexico …… in a big way. .

     Nowadays, it is popular to note that New Orleans is a City below sea level. That means that when water flows in NO, it flows INTO the City, not out of the City. The “below sea level” status of New Orleans evolved over time and has grown to be more serious year after year as the City sunk lower and lower. Truly, it was a recipe for disaster. It was just a matter of time.   

Now we have the legion of voices talking about re-building New Orleans. Bear in mind, that until water stops flowing INTO the City, we can't pump water OUT OF the City. Do we really want to rebuild a City that is 20 feet below sea level and once more place our fate in the hope that a series of levees can stiff arm the strongest punches of Mother Nature? Forever? Starting from the very beginning, no one in his right mind would build a big City where New Orleans is located  — below sea level, and sinking. No matter what we do in re rebuilding facilities and levees, we will never be more than one storm away from unmitigated disaster.

     Early on, Hurricanes were given female names  — based on the notion that females are fickle. And it goes without saying that the paths taken by hurricanes are very unpredictable, i.e., “fickle”. But of course, feminism has  eliminated that gender distinction and half of the hurricanes now are given  male names. Isn't that a kick? By whatever name, it is safe to assume  that Katrina is not the last hurricane we will see, and people from Maine to Galveston will contnue to build along the coastlines  —-   hurricanes or no hurricanes.

     Just think about it. If homes and industries still are being  built along coastlines ABOVE sea level and run the risk of serious damage or destruction, what is the logic of building or re-building a City BELOW sea level? Does that make a lot of sense?? Maybe we should abandon the City and make it a park or an environmental exhibit. Either one would be a lot easier to evacuate.

TRAGEDY IN NEW ORLEANS

     Few if any Americans can truly appreciate the terror, frustration, anxiety and suffering of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The aerial photos are truly mind-boggling. No food, no water, no medicine, no car, no help, no transportation, no bathroom facilities, and nowhere to go. Comparisons are being made to 9/11 in New York City but they may be inadequate. In NYC the damage was done all at once and help was immediately available. No so in New Orleans.

     One of the differences is that New York City had a Mayor (Giuliani) who took charge. Neither City was fully prepared for such a calamity, and indeed it is hard to visualize a degree of preparedness that would have averted either of the disasters. The Mayor of NO and the Governor of Louisiana clearly did not take charge and come to the rescue of the thousands of trapped citizens. Was the Federal response slower than might have been expected? Yes, indeed. But how do you go about a crash rescue program for thousands of people scattered over a large City in water ranging from knee deep to maybe 20 feet? Trapped in buildings 5-10 stories high??And if you want to drop supplies of water and food, just where do you drop them? It would be a lot easier said than done.I personally think that the media are having a blame-fixing field day trying to make matters worse. Face it. Mother nature went on a rampage, and when that happens there is only so much that can be done. Perhaps that is the origin of the term “ride it out”. Closer to home, the question might be, “What did the City and State do in immediate response to the tragedy? Just call Washington??

     The Bush bashers and black racists are at their best (worst)  –  to wit, the deaths and damage from Hurricane Katrina are George Bush's fault!  What else? Who else? And of course, the Sunday TV talk shows trotted out the experts on global warming, the melting of the ice caps, black bias, and a long litany of “I told you so's” about levees. A more pressing problem is what the governments  –Federal, State and local  –  are going to do about thousands of displaced people for the next six months.

    The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast will be with us for a long long time.