Aftermath of Katrina

Aftermath of Katrina Part II
MSNBC online news
New Orleans mayor orders forced evacuations
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Since New Orleans has been declared a disaster area, and nearly the entire city has been underwater; you would think that the people still in the city would want to get out. But as crazy as it sounds, America needs to remember that some of the people would NOT have evacuated willingly prior to the storm! They are adamant about staying and “riding out the storm”. These people, you can only place in God’s hands. (Remember that Harry Truman who refused to leave Mt. St. Helen’s before she blew in the 80’s?)

So, if they continue to refuse, then is the mayor, governor, or the federal government going to use force on them? It will be interesting to see how this plays out—keep in mind, that to use force strips them of their constitutional rights. They have not really committed a crime. At least not a crime punishable by imprisonment. We aren’t prosecuting people for being stupid—at least not yet.

If they use force on these individuals during a natural disaster, then what is to stop our government from using force on ANY of us when it suits them? Many times in the guise of a natural disaster the federal government will test the citizens to see what they can get away with and thus bring our constitution to a quicker demise. It has only taken them 40 years to convince this country that we are a democracy when in fact we started out as a Republic!

What they should do: Tell residents that it could take up to a year for the city of New Orleans to return to normal. Ask if they have enough provisions to last for that length of time. Then state, that no one will come to their rescue if things deteriorate. They will be on their own. Then let the residents choose.

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Among tragedies: 30 nursing home patients died, lawmaker accuses staff
State Rep. Nita Hutter accused staff at St. Rita's Nursing Home, just outside New Orleans, of having abandoned 30 patients who were later found dead. A flood rescue plan for the home apparently never materialized, Hutter said, and the staff “left them in those beds.” Another 50 patients were rescued from the home over the weekend but were in poor condition.

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Well, I have always believed that certain industries need to be upgraded—in terms of pay scales and educational requirements. Nursing homes and childcare centers both fall into this category.

We pay these workers minimum wage. They usually come from the lower socio-economic levels in society. They usually have a lower education level.

They are also overworked and understaffed.

As a result, are we surprised that this nursing home staff fled the premises leaving the residents to drown?

Society, we get what we pay for.

If you are NOT willing to pay a living wage to people; then they will not have the “loyalty” you are looking for.

By not having certain standards in place as a minimal requirement for hiring, you will only attract people whose education levels are far below par.

Who suffers? The elderly and the children.

There are plenty other types of jobs that people with poor educations can take. McDonald’s and their like, come to mind. While I may get irritated when my order is completely messed up; at least, it is not life threatening when this happens.

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I went through hurricane Alicia way back in 1983. She was a category 3 and I determined right then, never again. “Things” are not worth my life. My car was loaded with the things I couldn’t replace: photo albums, important papers, precious items, and then I had a suitcase of clothes and all the pet things I would need for them. The day to go, I loaded my baby and dogs and cat and left early enough to beat everyone else out of Houston. It takes some planning. You may end up leaving for no reason. But I have always preferred to err on the side of caution. Better to be safe rather than sorry.

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Hurricane Katrina is considered the most costly disaster in the history of the United States in terms of money and lives lost. The fear is that over 10,000 people may have perished.

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9/10 Update: The initial fear of 10,000 may be lower. Praise God. His mercies are great indeed.

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2 Corinthians 1:3 " All praise to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us."

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Why wasn’t anyone paying attention to the history books?

The 1900 storm that hit Galveston Texas on Sept. 8th, killed 6000. In terms of the number of dead, it had been considered the worst natural disaster in our history. 1900 Galveston Hurricane

105 years later, the Gulf Coast is slammed again. Bigger population = more deaths. Katrina goes from a category 1 all the way up to a 5. She hits as a 4.

What was the category of the Galveston storm?

A category 4!

Unlike the turn of the last century, we have greatly improved weather predicting abilities. And many Gulf coast cities have built sea walls to help break up the storm surges that come with hurricanes and cause the great damage and deaths.

Therefore, if a category 4 killed 6000 in 1900; how could a category 4 in 2005 do LESS DAMAGE?

It couldn’t. And it didn’t.

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
George Santayana

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Well we are definitely into the “Blame Game” . When did Americans get so durn whinny? When did it become so important to have a scapegoat?

We use to just jump in, work our behinds off and get the job done.

“Sen. Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican who lost his coastal home in the storm, said FEMA Director Michael Brown’s job is in jeopardy…”

So is Sen. Lott blaming FEMA Director Brown for his coastal home being destroyed? Or for not getting the “people” out of New Orleans? It is rather hard to tell from this quoted sentence. Perhaps Sen. Lott ought to blame himself for having a coastal home. You live by water then you need to be prepared for "natural" disasters because they are going to happen.

What most people have forgotten or never bothered to learn is that FEMA is NOT a first responder in a time of tragedy or disaster. They come in and clean up!
FEMA

The first responders are your local government. The policemen, firemen, medical personnel, city workers, etc SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN NEW ORLEANS. Many fine men and women did exactly that. But too many walked off their jobs and a few even started looting themselves!

The next level to respond should be at the state level then the federal level jumps in last. “In a catastrophic disaster, and if the governor requests, federal resources can be mobilized through theU.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for search and rescue, electrical power, food, water, shelter and other basic human needs.” FEMA library

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Various “liberal” news agencies are reporting that Americans are blaming President Bush for this hurricane. (Personally, I think our governments’ coercion of Israel to forfeit Gaza IS the reason—please note I don’t blame any one individual. Condaleeze Rice also supported this withdrawal as did many men and women in our federal government, republican and democrats alike. I guess the “liberal” media just want to blame a republican president for every little thing that goes wrong.)

"Asked who was to blame for the problems in New Orleans, 13 percent of the 609 adults surveyed said Bush, 18 percent said federal agencies, 25 percent said state or local officials and 38 percent said no one."

For all “liberal” media—you all need to quit reporting that EVERYONE in America thinks the hurricane is President Bush's fault. According to this MSNBC poll, it is not so.

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Update: 9/15 Media Bias Evident

(from Agape Press read entire article here: Agape Press

Michael Graham, the host of 'Michael Graham Unleashed!', on talk radio is convinced that the news media outlets are obsessed with bashing President Bush.

"Their mayor failed their city," Graham says bluntly stating that "Governor Kathleen Blanco also should shoulder some of the blame -- but the public," he says, "will be hard-pressed to find such news reports. He says the press is at fault in this regard."

"The press is more concerned about bashing Bush than they are in telling the truth, particularly when the bad actors in this case are Democrats in Louisiana," he contends. "The media really hates saying bad things about Democrats."

"Bush had failings," he admits, "but that doesn't change the fact that the press coverage should be on the first line of defense: the city and the [state] government. Those are the people who always confront natural disasters like this."

Governor Blanco declared over the weekend that "help in those critical moments was slow in coming, not through any fault of the president."

Democrats in Washington have been publicly holding President Bush solely responsible for the response problems.


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America, we are going to have to accept more responsibility for ourselves. Should this nation ever come under a concerted attack by our enemies, do you honestly think there might be a federal government left to respond? What will you do then? We either jump in and work our behinds off and get the job done, or die. Accessing blame is just a waste of time and energy. Behaving like lost little children begging for Uncle Sam to care for us is just pathetic, not to mention demeaning!

"May God save the country, for it is evident that the people will not."
13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore










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