Katrina - Wake up call?

[MTBME]

No I'm not talking about global warming, and forget Bush and Cindy for awhile. The events down the Gulf made me realize, again, that we as a nation have to realize that ultimitely, we are responsible to get us out of or survive situations like these. How many people have you seen in the last few days asking "Why couldn't they just take my husband to the hospital. He'd be alive today". Or "Why won't somebody tell us where to go, what to do." How many people stuck in attics are asking when is somebody going to come along to get us out of here?

My point is this event exceeds the capacity of the "normal" emergency systems, by a factor of 10 or 100! These people are on their own. And it could happen to any of us. A nuclear device in a suitcase in a populated area like Boston. Add to the mix the lawlessness of armed thugs roaming the neighborhoods. What would you do if they wanted your food and water or shelter? Do you want to be the only one on your block without some protection? Yeah, its times like these that I ask myself, when are you going to apply for that gun permit.

[truckboy]

That's the spirit!

[catbbq]

That's an excellent point. During the Y2K scare, I made it a point to be home in Arkansas. I didn't expect anything to happen, but at the same time, I didn't want to be in a large population area and have everything go to hell. I wanted to be home, close to people I trust. I didn't mind the hunting arsenal my family keeps either!

That is exactly why I don't want to live in the city (among other reasons.) Boston isn't too huge, but it is big enough that if something happened, it could take days to get out. New York, your as good as dead.

If an when it happens, I will put the bikes on the car and drive as far as possible towards Mom and Dad in Arkansas. When I can't get anymore gas, take the bikes off and start pedalling.

Anyone got a design for mounting a holster to a bike?

[BG]

If only we knew.

http://www.marcoeagle.com/hurricane/01/d632401a.htm

BG

[BG]

Just a tiny glimpse of the future.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050901/ts_nm/weather_katrina_wrap_dc_1

BG

[Slider]

I gotta admit that at least a small part of the reason I moved from Boston to the CT countryside was concerns after 9/11. I am expecting a dirty bomb somewhere at some point, or worse. After seeing how close we really are to chaos as in New Orleans, I am now thinking I need to stash a shotgun somewhere. Not a handgun, mind you, but a home defense unit. Maybe pump action.

Needless to repeat here, but I will anyway, I have no faith in our current governance. There is no long range planning other than "Let's make up reasons for expensive pointless wars." I don't see things getting any better in the near term, and it may be too late for the long term, because the camel's back is very, very bowed. And financial and military overcommitment is only the most obvious problem.

But, since I am not in New Orleans, and am making nice commissions lately, life is good. So I will enjoy it until I am forced to stop. I value all the post-work time I spend with my wife and cats hanging in my back yard, and every single minute on my bike is pure heaven.

So Katrina is both a wake up call, and a reminder that it could be a lot worse. As long as you don't live on the Gulf, Iraq, Sudan, and many other places, you have it very good in this world. We're a small minority, but the clock is ticking.

Slider

[BG]

Damn, Damn Straight.

BG

[TrailBate]

I keep thinking when I see the hurricane coverage that this is pretty much what the coverage would look like if a small nuke went off in a city.

If the terrorists hit us now, we'd be beyond screwed....

[gnurider1080]

if things keep going the way for our country like they have been the past few years for 10 or so more years, we are f***ed. im seriously considering moving to canada once i graduate from high school.

[priss]

I'm torn on the issue. We live on a world where huge changes in geography occur, often with little warning. The possibilities are without limit. From a light fog to a planet killing asteroid we have predictions and warnings from the most learned among us. If we were to make preperations for all then how would we live?

I feel for those who were struck by this event. Many were unable to get out when warned, for whatever reason. Now they look to the rest of us, or to the government to rescue them. Huge efforts are being made, the logistics of which are beyond most victims comprehension, or concern. They want help and need it now.

I see alot of focus on what some think should have or could have been done or what more could be done now and is'nt. I'm anticipating with horror the endless hearings and comentary sure to dominate the media for months to come. In the end there will be no wake up for the people. People will be convinced that the grief, loss, poverty, and pain was not as a result of a hurricane but the liabelous negligenge of their fellow man. Their pain will be weapon in the hands of the politicians, its a shame. I hear the senators now calling the oil companies "looters" for taking advantage of the situation for their own personal profit. Soon they will be looting too, for votes, and campain contributions.

I think I take your point Norm. How much should we prepare for the worst in this world. Do we ever think about it until things get bad. And how quickly we forget. I see a big problem with the blame game every time an unpresidented event like this occurs. It was the Governments fault, ok lets say it was. So of the Government is suposed to think of all the possible ways my life could be ruined and prepare then why should I have to take any personal responsibility for it. They will rescue me.

I am not prepared to give my life over to the care of any government. I will prepare for those things I can reasonably assume may occur, and i will pray about the rest. What else can anyone do? The asteroid is on its way isnt it?

priss

[TrailBate]

It was the Governments fault, ok lets say it was. So of the Government is suposed to think of all the possible ways my life could be ruined and prepare then why should I have to take any personal responsibility for it. They will rescue me.

I am not prepared to give my life over to the care of any government. I will prepare for those things I can reasonably assume may occur, and i will pray about the rest. What else can anyone do? The asteroid is on its way isnt it?

priss



In 2001, before 9/11, FEMA made an assessment of the biggest disaster threats to the US. In order:

1. major earthquake in San Francisco
2. Hurricane and Flood in New Orleans
3. Terrorist attack in NYC

I"ve seen plenty of shows on NOVA and TLC about the threats to these cities. Clinton funded a project to strengthen the levee system in New Orleans. Bush cut that program.

Beyond this, these people still have not seen any food, water, or police enforcement. this is complete and total ********.

The mayor of New Orleans was on CNN this morning, and he was PISSED. He said he wants no more speeches, no more press conferences. The help that is being promised is not there. There is no excuse for this. this is complete f'ing ********. DO we have leaders in this country or what?

[Quo Fan]

I saw on the news this morning that there are wharehouses full of relief supplies waiting to be sent to New Orleans, but are just sitting there because nobody has told them where to ship the goods.

[MTBME]

Monday morniung it was pretty obvious that the scope of this disaster was unlike anything we have seen in modern US history. Wednesday evening Bush spoke to the country. A day late and a dollar short. This administration always seems to be in a reacting mode as evidence in New Orleans to Iraq.

The military should have been on the ground on Tuesday providing order. There is no excuse for not dropping bottled water for people dehydrating / dying under a hot sun. Is this the best we can do? There are leaders in this world that have the ability to inspire us and make us feel that things are under control and everything will be all right. Bush isn't one of those guys. Ronald Regan had that gift no matter what you thought about him personally. Look how Rudy G. in New York coordinated the clean up effort after 9/11. Meanwhile Bush tells us "don't buy gas if you don't need it". Is that the best you can do?

The Republicans will take a hammering in the mid term elections and they deserve it. The cost of gas and heating oil will bring real suffering to the rest of us this winter. Short term answer: Allow the processing of high sulfer oil for gasoline? (More polution but plenty of supply and cheaper than the sweet crude). Build more refineries? How would people feel about a refinery at the Otis Air Force base? What! Not in my back yard right. Hell we can't even put a few windmills there. How about relaxing the standards for a year so that every other state doesn't have its own special blend of gas. This drives up the cost and creates supply problems.

[BrianK]

Right on MTBME. This situation has been beyond catastrophic for more than 48 hours and you still don't get the feeling this administration is taking this seriously. The fact that there are still people waiting to be evacuated and living in the filth and anarchy makes me sick. With the resources this country has we should have had them out of there long before now.

What are they thinking? "Guess there's no hurry, just a bunch of poor black people down there...."

[Rych]

I hope this is a wake up call to all people living in the path of hurricanes. When you are told to evacuate, you leave.

Also this seen makes me think of how important the second amendment is. If I'm stuck pushing my family on a canoe through flooded streets and I'm confronted with a mob who wants to steal the canoe, I want to be able to defend myself.

I don't think this city should be rebuilt, unless they build it on stilts ala Venice.

[off piste]

I just got the ball rolling here on the process to get a Mass. LTC -- I'm taking the firearm safety course with GOAL in a few weeks. This after just putting a security system in the house 2 weeks ago. Am I getting paranoid in my advancing age?

Now, if only this section of the world could just hold together until I'm armed to the teeth......

[Mr_Cheeze]

This state of anarchy is going to divide the firearms factions even more. The anti-gun wussies will use it as evidence that the citizens need to be disarmed, and the pro-gun folks will plainly see that during times like this, to be armed is the only way to protect yourself from those scumbags who feel the need to use violence as their means.

[BrianK]

Also this seen makes me think of how important the second amendment is. If I'm stuck pushing my family on a canoe through flooded streets and I'm confronted with a mob who wants to steal the canoe, I want to be able to defend myself.


A rabid mob of people will easily overpower a single man with a gun. You've only got so many bullets in your clip.

I will admit though that with whats going on in 'nawlins and the extreme rise in gas prices, I wondered for the first time what I'd do in a state of anarchy. A gun came to mind, but I realized that I don't even have food stockpiled. So a gun is pretty low on my list of things to get.
Besides we're a long way off from total anarchy in this country. This hurricane really has created a horrible and extreme condition of which won't be easily duplicated and the country is still fine as a whole. All the people rushing to get guns are overreacting or just using this as an excuse so you can get that gun you always wanted...

[catbbq]

A rabid mob may over power a single family in a canoe, but having someone's brains splattered all over the mob will probably be as good as pepper spray.

[Rych]

Also this seen makes me think of how important the second amendment is. If I'm stuck pushing my family on a canoe through flooded streets and I'm confronted with a mob who wants to steal the canoe, I want to be able to defend myself.



just using this as an excuse so you can get that gun you always wanted...



Nope. Don't own a gun, don't really feel I need one, but I want the option to buy one if I want one.