I'll be gone all day today driving to Billings to see a Doctor. I'm very concerned that upon my return I'll learn from the News the situation in the Hurricane damaged areas is much worse. This morning the water is rising in New Orleans.
I think the estimates of damage to 27 billion are very very low. It would not be a surprise to see 50 billion. If last night on a rooftop or trapped in an attic was hard, tonight is going to be worse. There is no drinkable water unless you have some bottled available.
The pumps are out of order, or cannot be run without electricity or diesel delivered to site. You can't deliver without a road, and you don't have electricity until the water is drained.
Disasters show us how small we are and if our plans have been adequate. Our plans are not adequate. There has not been a new refinery built in the US since the 1970's. Tapping the Strategic Oil reserve will not help much.
All I can see is mess. Adequate levies would have cost much less than 27 billion dollars. Many of the people living in the affected areas did not even bother to protect their properties- Uncle Sam will take care of that later for them. Various news estimates were only 1:4 or 1:5 boarded the windows.
One man was quoted about staying in the SuperDome: "If I wanted to see a roof blow off I could have stayed at home and watched my own."
Well. For every disatisfied 'customer' there are scores of heros doing what needs be done. These Big Events in Life bring out the small and the Great of Heart. And if we'd had great plans and better infrastructure, what then? Why, failure and loss, of course. There are many things wrong with our Nation, many injustices. And there are many things right, both in our society and in the individual.
I always end up in the same place- time to pray. We could have done better, but we are only men. I'll be home in about 12 hours. I'm hoping when I get back I'll find a fleet of boats in the flooded areas bringing rescue.
The image of people drowning in their homes waiting for rescue is too painfull for me to believe otherwise.
munk
I think the estimates of damage to 27 billion are very very low. It would not be a surprise to see 50 billion. If last night on a rooftop or trapped in an attic was hard, tonight is going to be worse. There is no drinkable water unless you have some bottled available.
The pumps are out of order, or cannot be run without electricity or diesel delivered to site. You can't deliver without a road, and you don't have electricity until the water is drained.
Disasters show us how small we are and if our plans have been adequate. Our plans are not adequate. There has not been a new refinery built in the US since the 1970's. Tapping the Strategic Oil reserve will not help much.
All I can see is mess. Adequate levies would have cost much less than 27 billion dollars. Many of the people living in the affected areas did not even bother to protect their properties- Uncle Sam will take care of that later for them. Various news estimates were only 1:4 or 1:5 boarded the windows.
One man was quoted about staying in the SuperDome: "If I wanted to see a roof blow off I could have stayed at home and watched my own."
Well. For every disatisfied 'customer' there are scores of heros doing what needs be done. These Big Events in Life bring out the small and the Great of Heart. And if we'd had great plans and better infrastructure, what then? Why, failure and loss, of course. There are many things wrong with our Nation, many injustices. And there are many things right, both in our society and in the individual.
I always end up in the same place- time to pray. We could have done better, but we are only men. I'll be home in about 12 hours. I'm hoping when I get back I'll find a fleet of boats in the flooded areas bringing rescue.
The image of people drowning in their homes waiting for rescue is too painfull for me to believe otherwise.
munk