« Hurricane Katrina did not hit Bye-Lock-See | Main | Hurricane Katrina vs. Camille »
August 30, 2005
Gulf Coast descends into chaos
The levees around New Orleans have been breached, and the city is beginning to flood. The rising floodwaters have forced lethargic criminals from their dens, like Formosan termites, swarming on a still summer night. These subsidized vermin have emerged from obscurity to loot and pillage the city, setting fire to warehouses and homes.
As the city deteriorates into anarchy, the U.S. Army National Guard has moved into the city in a belated attempt to restore order. Unfortunately, they're a day late and a dollar short. Although New Orleans initially managed to duck the worst of Katrina, critical mistakes in the immediate aftermath of the storm allowed conditions to deteriorate exponentially.
The situation on the coast is out of control. There are an unknown number of deaths. Millions are currently without electricity, potable water, and air conditioning. Fuel is practically non-existent on the coast. The relief efforts currently underway are negligible.
Critical Mistakes:
- The main focus after the hurricane passed should have been to shore up the levee systems. The National Guard presumably has helicopters. Helicopters should have been used to locate breeches in the levees. A furious effort should have been immediately undertaken to close the breaches by any means possible. Repairing a levee does not require gas, electricity, or clear weather. In emergencies, levees can be repaired with little more than sandbags and shovels. In the future, why not have barges with cranes anchored at Port Gibson stockpiled with sand bags, gasoline, diesel, and generators? These barges could be released after a storm passed, float down the river, and repair levee breaches and provide fuel and electricity to emergency personnel. Similar barges should be kept ready on Lake Ponchartrain. They could repair levee breaches as close as City Park, or as far away as Mandeville.
- The nationalization of the National Guards. In a bold coup-de-tat, the United States usurped the authority of the National Guard of every state in the union by reorganizing the National Guard units under the U.S. Army. Ultimately, the president of the United States controls the National Guard, not the governors of the various states.
- The president of the United States sent a significant portion of our National Guard to fight in a foreign country. This was not the intent of the National Guard. They were supposed to stay home and respond to emergencies at home, not abroad.
- The president should not be relaxing at his ranch in Crawford Texas as the Gulf Coast of the United States descends into chaos. I voted for him twice, and I think it’s unconscionable that he’s not down on the coast directing relief efforts.
We are facing a full-scale disaster, Bush is relaxing at his ranch in Crawford, and our National Guard troops are stuck in a desert half way around the globe. This is the kind of tragedy that fuels civil wars. The president would be wise to wake up and attempt to gain control of the situation.
Update: Bush did come to his senses and decide to cut his vacation short today, something he should have done yesterday, but better late than never. Look for Bush to dispatch troops to the ravaged areas of the gulf coast promptly.
Technorati tags:Hurricane Katrina , Katrina , Superdome , New Orleans , Hurricane
Posted by Peenie Wallie on August 30, 2005 at 9:18 AM
Comments