Comparing Natural Disasters

and the response to them.

I am struck at the way California is handling almost ONE MILLION displaced persons - there is order, there is calm, there are plans in place - and I am unaware of something happening on this scale at least during my nearly 50 years on this planet.

Contrast it to...

New Orleans. No leadership at the local or state governmental levels (notice had the Federal govt has little if any role in California - how it is not needed), local residents looting, shooting at the rescuers and police and firemen, chaos, etc. And they had days of watching that great big red circle on radar roll right into their homes. Totally amazing -

I am wondering if we will be hearing comments about President Bush and FEMA or about other topics that were raised by everyone after Katrina?

Anyhow, its nice to see all the good that is coming in the wake of this total disaster - and the very small loss of life - unfortunate that anyone died.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Oct 24 2007, 09:41 AM) [snapback]529653[/snapback]</div>

I dont know if you can compare a hurricane vs a flood/fire both of which destroy everything in their path while the hurricane (depending on its strength and the building standards of the homes and buildings involved) can pass over and leave structures intact.

I truly admire what local and state governments are doing - and large corporations - in california. again - no looting, no shooting at public employees, no body being euthanized.... And little if no federal help.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Oct 24 2007, 09:56 AM) [snapback]529659[/snapback]</div>

about what?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 24 2007, 09:57 AM) [snapback]529660[/snapback]</div>

That could be true - but I am still amazed at the differences. Also look at large corporations pitching in again - private businesses helping out. Nice to see in this time of need. Again, the differences in state and local governments handling of this is the way it is supposed to be.

If i can, being in Gotham during 9/11 - it was amazing at how local government and everybody here handled it so well. Rudy was amazing, the cops, firefighters, the people all were great. No warning, total chaos, massive loss of life, significant destruction of local infrastructure including communications - and here to much better handled than New Orleans handled Katrina.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Oct 24 2007, 10:36 AM) [snapback]529677[/snapback]</div>

i forgot, there are no poor people in california and no wealthy people in NO. my bad.
where are the feds in california?? seems to me just a difference in the quality of local and state governments.

i have not seen rudy in a few months - i will send you well wishes to him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 24 2007, 10:37 AM) [snapback]529679[/snapback]</div>

having lived through 9/11 up close and personal, the loss of cell phone communications were devastating. it was the reason i ran downtown - we thought daughter had "bought it" - and you could not get a hold of anybody. Gotham had ZERO time to prepare for it too while NO had a week but in reality had DECADES to get ready. the fact that the local and state govt there FAILED so MISERABLY is SHOCKING. it is not like it is not going to happen again - it is just a matter of when. 9/11 was a first and was an event for which no planning was possible - yet the local govt here and the public employees and the people here on the ground were MAGNIFICENT! I understand about the magnitude of the flooding - i am just stating that the differences here are significant - just in the response to the disaster.

Evan,
Did you ever try the Three Ring Shiraz?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Oct 24 2007, 12:25 PM) [snapback]529730[/snapback]</div>

Bad comparison bro - the numbers where both in the millions i thought. and i do not think you have a true appreciation for the number of wildfires burning, the amount of land involved, and the nature of the disruption of the infrastructure there.

at least NO had decades to get ready for their flood - and yet, failed miserably.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ACORNBLUES @ Oct 24 2007, 12:34 PM) [snapback]529736[/snapback]</div>

at least with katrina you had a defined area of destruction. and again decades of preparation.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Oct 24 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]529743[/snapback]</div>

Looks like that even though we are fighting an active war in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places in the world, we still have lots of resources here at home to help those in need. Nice work on discovering what is available to help - and figure this is just the tip of the iceberg.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(geologyrox @ Oct 24 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]529750[/snapback]</div>

True, that is why Katrina was so devastating - the local and state governments and response - even given the heads up of what was heading their way - and and and - decades of planning - and and and - billions of dollars of american treasure - the local and state governments down there were horrible.

if you cannot count on local response to emergencies and disasters, it stops there.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mojo @ Oct 24 2007, 02:20 PM) [snapback]529792[/snapback]</div>

you hit the nail on the head. perceptive. insightful.