Katrina Problems
There are plenty of problems in the New Orleans area. Much of it spawning from the lack of preparation.
First, I actually don't mind the after-storm news coverage. During the storm was generic newscasting at it's most...generic. But it is the newscasts that have shown just how much more damage this storm has caused as opposed to other storms. It wasn't just the strength of Katrina itself, but the area in which it hit.
The floods are probably the worst enviromental problem New Orleans faces. Even when homes are just flooded for a short time or destroyed altogether, the turnaround from the damage is a short time compared to how long it will take to repair all the damage the many-day long flood that will happen. Not only that, the water will get to about the perfect condition for bacteria and other diseases, as well as contamination from sewage and oil (oil being the most obvious one that is seen on the news).
The problem with the floods isn't stemed from artificial means of protection. I have been hearing that Bush cut funding for such protection, but I can't blame him for this one since I doubt even if construction was in effect, it probably wouldn't be ready for this storm. But the problem is expansion. All the natural protection from floods, such as swamps and wetlands, has either eroded away or paved over due to regular expansion. If New Orleans is to be protected by hurricanes in the long run, natural flood protections is badly needed.
Looting and the lack of livable conditions are making things worse. People are taking whatever they can get, sometimes even if it isn't needed for survival. Gunfire has delayed rescues and other transportation. Security is praciticly non-existant, especially with much of the National Guard isn't in New Orleans, but in Iraq.
Most of all, the problem is not only the people who chose to ride out Katrina, but those who had no choice. The Superdome was filled with too many people, and with too few supplies. People were dying before news camera's eyes.
There are stories of people taking luggage instead of more people when evacuating from the storm. What was worst is that airlines, while promising not to send passangers to the area, wouldn't send any empty aircraft to the area. This left people who had tickets to get out stranded.
If there is one thing I would like to make clear, these problems are a problem of the curcumstance in which these people are living in. People do desparate things when they need to. It isn't any racial or social economic problem, it's the fact that there are few supplies out there. People are not helping one another. It also doesn't help that any releaf groups are seemingly slow to get to the areas that are needed. There are far too many people in the Superdome alone to transport anywhere in a timely fashion.
I am hoping that help does come soon. As it is, the longer that it takes for releaf to come, the worst the situation will get.
First, I actually don't mind the after-storm news coverage. During the storm was generic newscasting at it's most...generic. But it is the newscasts that have shown just how much more damage this storm has caused as opposed to other storms. It wasn't just the strength of Katrina itself, but the area in which it hit.
The floods are probably the worst enviromental problem New Orleans faces. Even when homes are just flooded for a short time or destroyed altogether, the turnaround from the damage is a short time compared to how long it will take to repair all the damage the many-day long flood that will happen. Not only that, the water will get to about the perfect condition for bacteria and other diseases, as well as contamination from sewage and oil (oil being the most obvious one that is seen on the news).
The problem with the floods isn't stemed from artificial means of protection. I have been hearing that Bush cut funding for such protection, but I can't blame him for this one since I doubt even if construction was in effect, it probably wouldn't be ready for this storm. But the problem is expansion. All the natural protection from floods, such as swamps and wetlands, has either eroded away or paved over due to regular expansion. If New Orleans is to be protected by hurricanes in the long run, natural flood protections is badly needed.
Looting and the lack of livable conditions are making things worse. People are taking whatever they can get, sometimes even if it isn't needed for survival. Gunfire has delayed rescues and other transportation. Security is praciticly non-existant, especially with much of the National Guard isn't in New Orleans, but in Iraq.
Most of all, the problem is not only the people who chose to ride out Katrina, but those who had no choice. The Superdome was filled with too many people, and with too few supplies. People were dying before news camera's eyes.
There are stories of people taking luggage instead of more people when evacuating from the storm. What was worst is that airlines, while promising not to send passangers to the area, wouldn't send any empty aircraft to the area. This left people who had tickets to get out stranded.
If there is one thing I would like to make clear, these problems are a problem of the curcumstance in which these people are living in. People do desparate things when they need to. It isn't any racial or social economic problem, it's the fact that there are few supplies out there. People are not helping one another. It also doesn't help that any releaf groups are seemingly slow to get to the areas that are needed. There are far too many people in the Superdome alone to transport anywhere in a timely fashion.
I am hoping that help does come soon. As it is, the longer that it takes for releaf to come, the worst the situation will get.
posted by SeanM at 6:36 PM
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