How did this happen?

[ck4829]

Now the Superdome is being evacuated!

It does not seem as though anyone was truly prepared for this disaster.

This warrants an investigation.

[calico1]

1. When was the last time NO was hit really

hard by a storm? Seems a lot of things are not working as was thought they would.

[garthranzz]

3. The closest to this was Betsy in '65.

[calico1]

9. Okay, I was trying to remember if there

had been anything recent and didn't think there was. That's why I was curious. The levies didn't hold up well, the Superdome didn't hold up as thought. This seems to happen in places that have not been hit for a long time. Reminds me of the earthquake in CA in the 80's when the bridges didn't hold up as it was thought they would. I wish it didn't have to take something like this for them to find out.

[AnnInLa]

2. moving SOME into the convention center

and Hyatt...just to spread them out...many to remain in Super dome

[mondo joe]

4. No one is really prepared for such disasters. People are coping

the best they can under the circumstances.

[rbjensen]

6. I wish I were there helping. n/t

[rbjensen]

5. Now what about that bullet they dodged? n/t

[calico1]

10. As terrible as it was they did not get a direct

hit, according to the weather people. If they had it would have been much worse, if you can even imagine that. I think that's what they mean by NO "dodging the bullet."

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Yes, it could have been worse.

Imagine if the superdome had collapsed with 12,000 people inside.

[calico1]

19. The way the storm was being followed the

weather forcasters had thought it would slam directly into NO. It veered slightly and did not hit NO directly as it was feared it would. This is what was meant when they were saying NO "dodged the bullet." I don't think they were implying that it was a wimpy little storm that did no damage. Of course, seeing the damage that was done they could and should use more sensible and sensitive language now. To people there its bad enough I'm sure!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

22. A couple of the posters ....

...did indeed imply that New Orleans would be safe with very little damage. They went on to disparage the hurricane modeling of the weather forecasters, and the posters that feared that the worst could potentially take place.

I don't see them posting on this subject today.

[rbjensen]

20. Very true. But I still say they got hit by the bullet.

just not between the eyes.

[theboss]

7. The bottom line: No city has a plan for these things

I don't think we've had any sort of civilian disaster preparation since the 50s. And I'm not sure you could plan at this point.

Moving two million people in 48 hours just ain't that easy.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. I often appreciate your posts, but I disagree with you

We have scientists that have models of what floods would do to this area. We also have had two years of fierce and destructive hurricanes in the region starting with disasters in Fla and damage done in Pensacola and Alabama last year. We had warnings regarding this year's hurricane season and Katrina had been being tracked prior to Friday.

The very FACT that this area has flooded and resulted in massive deaths and devastation in the past is CAUSE for resources to be spent on emergency preparedness and evacuation plans.

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. Less easy today than in the past --

used to be there were public transit systems. Trains, fleets of busses. All gutted in favor or privately owned vehicles.

One of the best rationales for good public transit.

[Cleita]

8. Yes and investigate everyone including the federal government

and the Pentagon for not having the National Guard there where it was needed.

[AlGore-08.com]

14. The National Guard was there before the hurricane

They brought food and water to the folks stranded in the Superdome, and have been rescuing people stranded by the floods since it the hurricane passed.

[Cleita]

17. The should have evacuated those people before the hurricane

but most of their equipment to do that is in Iraq. I know they are working hard to do what they can, but they are really up against a big problem that didn't have to be.

[rinsd]

12. How does one truly prepare for such a disaster?

Hindsight is 20-20 and considering the closest a hurricane last came to NO was 40 years ago, they are doing the best they can.

I really don't feel comfortable critiqueing the people on the ground as if I would know how better to handle this.

[ck4829]

15. In no way am I talking about the people stranded in the Superdome

Or the people who have had to leave everything behind

Or the people who have suffered

There is no way we could have stopped the Hurricane.

But, with their National Guard, tools, and other resources stuck in Iraq, and since Bush cut funding to this stuff, then I really feel as though the effect and cost of this disaster really could have been decreased.

[TahitiNut]

13. When a government bureaucracy slashes funds, it's by pruning.

According to reports local emergency preparedness funding was slashed recently by over $70 million, following cuts in prior years. It has been my experience that the way such bureaucracies cut funding is by eliminating the boots on the ground - the actual deliverers of services. The project and program management staffing is cut very little, if at all. External contracts for 'advisory' and 'consultative' services continue. While exceptions exist where greater care is taken, I doubt a GOP administration takes care of the individual service providers or the supplies and materials for the target beneficiaries.

[charlie]

16. Dub and the Republicans

have been slashing disaster relief and preparedness funding since his first months in office. The latest cuts, soon to be in effect, are paring gristle off the bone.