Year-Old N. Geo. Article Describes New Orleans Today

[Hissyspit]

Newbie DUer atomic-fly posted this in one of my threads. I think it is precient enough to deserve its own thread:

This article was written last year, I think: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature5 /

"Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless, and 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.

When did this calamity happen? It hasn't—yet. But the doomsday scenario is not far-fetched. The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists a hurricane strike on New Orleans as one of the most dire threats to the nation, up there with a large earthquake in California or a terrorist attack on New York City. Even the Red Cross no longer opens hurricane shelters in the city, claiming the risk to its workers is too great."

[Demonaut]

1. how prophetic.

good post

[indepat]

2. FEMA knew the risk, but funding for hurricane-related protection

reportedly slashed to the point of emasculation. Let's call for Congressional hearings; no wait, was it not the Congress who rubber-stamps these budget measures in virtual lockstep?

[Blue_Tires]

3. creepy n/t

[leftofthedial]

4. no one could ever have imagined that this would happen

much less interrupted their fucking vacation to prepare for it.

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Everyone Knew For Decades. No One Made The Funds Available To Fix

the problem. That is the real crime. This is going to cost tens of billions now. That does not even begin to tally the human toll.

[Walt Starr]

6. One word. "PRESCIENT" n/t

[NNN0LHI]

Rice said she was only warned about a "traditional" hurricane n/t

[lectrobyte]

7. This analysis made after Ivan seems sadly to be on the mark

http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/nov04/nov04c.html

[Demonaut]

8. kick