[at-l] Natural Disasters and Solutions to Future Problems

[Bror8588 at aol.com (Bror8588@aol.com)]

In a message dated 9/1/2005 10:23:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  
wdlists@optonline.net writes:

I won't  do the burning. Similar thoughts had occurred to me. Perhaps not as
strong  as "not rebuilt", but certainly some of the considerations should be
the  cost effectiveness of building in a disaster prone area below sea  level.

Clearly there is a people problem that may be as large as the  physical
problems, what with the looting and lawlessness of a severely  economically
depressed area. This did not occur in NY on 9/11.

So  far they are in disaster recovery mode. I hope someone somewhere is  doing
some serious long term planning.




It is easy to look back in hindsight and say how this disaster should have  
been handled.  But here goes.
 
There were trains from New Orleans that could have taken passengers north  
and out of the way of the hurricane's path.  This should have been part of  the 
evacuation plan (and part of any future evacuation plan anywhere in the  USA). 
 It seems to me that when a Hurricane is predicted and seen to be  bearing 
down on a community that the US govt. should provide escape via train  and bus 
(paid for out of disaster money) and that centers in areas away from the  
predicted storm should be activated immediately.  If a disaster does not  happen 
then people can return to their area in the same way.  The cost can  be part of 
the subsidy given to the rail road (AMTRAK) and calculated at a deep  discount 
and not the highest passenger cost that they charge.
 
Levee strength is something that should be assessed on an ongoing basis  when 
the weather conditions are good and visibility is good.  In fact there  
should be dykes along the Levees four or six feet wide that could be used for  
joggers, bicycles, walkers, etc., that would make them useful in non disaster  
times to make them palatable to those who are concerned about building them with  
taxpayer money (who else could pay for them?) or perhaps Corporations could  
donate funds and have sections named for them.  
 
Churches, Schools, Community Centers, etc., need to upgrade their teachings  
of morality and respect for the rights of others so that looting can be  
minimized.  There is a clear breach of respect for the law among the  desperate 
poor.  Desperation for survival may overcome the law in cases of  tragedy so 
water and food (that would spoil over time anyway) could be  made available to 
those in dire straits without charge (but reimbursable by  Government disaster 
funding). 
 
Disaster time is the worst time to start preparing for a disaster.   This 
type of planning (especially in a vulnerable place like New Orleans and the  Gulf 
Coast region) needs to be in place far in advance of dangerous times.
 
This weekend in the Northeast is predicted to have great weather.  The  sun 
will be shining and business in beach communities will be super.  It is  easy 
to forget that there are people suffering some 1500 miles away unless one  
picks up the newspaper or turns on the television.  
 
Skylander Jack