(no subject)

[mmcnealy]

Apologies in advance if this comes across cranky, the cold is still in full force and I should be up in Seattle getting ready to go camping. Instead I'm at home in CA, blowing my nose and trying to get my ears unstick.

I don't usually post commentary on other's blog entries, but this really struck a cord with me. Varifrank is a blog I read regularly. I don't alway agree with everything he says, but he makes a lot of good points in this entry. For instance, did you know that Katrina devastaed an area the size of Great Britain? I didn't. Varifrank compares the storm to an atomic bomb in
Anarchy begins at home

Also, for all of you wondering why the Federal Government didn't step in earlier and do more, remember, disaster response starts and the local and state level, the locals drive the show, they know the area, its part of the whole thing called "federalism" where the locals govern themselves and the disaster plans start at the local level. The Feds are doing things to help, but they can only go in after the local governments ask them to.

For a little more perspective read another blog entry 100 hours after stormfall

Basically, this is just a plea to those on my friends list... Please stop the after storm quarterbacking! If you want to make the life and death disaster planning decisions that you are criticizing right now, go into public service and YOU can make these plans, and understand the cost/benefit rish analysis that goes into figuring out what to spend money on versus what not to.

If you want to do something, here's a large list of charities and groups who are helping in the area, remember there's more than just the Red Cross, http://instapundit.com/archives/025235.php

and, here's an article on opening your home to host an family for a stay. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9153514/

The Red Cross is taking volunteers, others are too. If you want to do something more than give money, pick up the phone and call, give or go. But please, stop the griping.

Comments

[alienor.livejournal.com]

Also, for all of you wondering why the Federal Government didn't step in earlier and do more, remember, disaster response starts and the local and state level, the locals drive the show, they know the area, its part of the whole thing called "federalism" where the locals govern themselves and the disaster plans start at the local level. The Feds are doing things to help, but they can only go in after the local governments ask them to.

THANK YOU for posting this!

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I really liked your cost/benefit comment on your earlier post. I just posted an entry with a link to an article in Civil Engineering about the levees, history of them and storm modeling. Its pretty interesting.

[kelli-enkeli.livejournal.com]

Amazing how armchair stratagists have a plan for everything. I'm sure they'll also slove the energy crisis, end the political turmoil in Haiti, and if they have time this afternoon reunite Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

I hope I don't come across as "quarterbacking". All I'm trying to do is process it. As far as self-sufficiency is concerned, I agree 100%. It is not the Fed's responsibility for preventing the fundamental problems that went wrong in NOLA. Yes, the Army Corps of Engineers had funding cut for shoring up the levees, but that's only one minor part of the problem (and I still think that with all the tourism income in New Orleans, *some* money could have been diverted to civic planning). This issue was ignored all over the place from local governments on up.

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

You're not one of the ones I'm complaining about. I completly agree with you on the "locals need to take care of their own levees first" theme.

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

Whew. :)

I know you are talking about me

[jenlemus.livejournal.com]

New Orleans/Louisiana was placed in a state of emergency before the hurricane even hit wasn't it? I can't remember the exact term for it but it gives the feds the ability to provide aid. Of course they had no clue what was coming, but FEMA had the authority to act and bring in more resources if need be.

The mayor of New Orleans has been very vocal in his cries for help to the public, in the confusion was it kicked up through the proper channels to feds? Should proper channels matter in the scope of this disaster? Or should you be calling up the guard in greater numbers while waiting for that call? One of the first things I heard was that Louisiana's constitution doesn't grant the authority to declare martial law - did they ask for federal assistance at that point?

One difference with this storm vs the tsunami - we had media in place here because we knew something was coming. The aftermath has been well documented.

I have a feeling this will end much like the '06 quake, showing the corruption and mismanagement for what it's worth. Calls to beef up the fire main system had been ignored, the Army in fighting the fire actually caused it to spread faster, the corrupt government used the Army to blow up the homes of political opponents. The death toll was then lied about to hide the mismanagement. Officially it had been given as ~450 - the number of bodies in a single morgue. It was recently officially revised to around 2,000 deaths.

[roswtr.livejournal.com]

You know, I think most people gripe because they can't do anything -- or they just feel like they can't. I can't give to charities, because I have no money. I can't donate blood, 'cause I'm on the restricted list. So all I can do is sit here and feel helpless, which makes me frustrated and cranky. People like to whine, and we all want somebody to blame. We all want somebody -- who isn't us -- to be responsible.

Sorry to hear you're still feeling icky. You haven't cancelled your trip, have you?

[tonyadmay.livejournal.com]

Well-spoken. As much as I hate that this couldn't be prevented, my time/energy/extra stuff is put to much better use in helping out.