On her faeriebell's blog site, she states the problem clearly. How can we rebuild our city without significantly improving the hurricane protection system?
Congress and the president have pledged to rebuild the levees back the way they were before the storm. It seems stupid to have to say this, but perhaps it's not as obvious to them as it is to me: What we had is not good enough!
She clearly defines the issue when she reminds us:
"The government's first priority should be protecting its citizens, whether it be from foreign terrorists or from natural disasters."
A great big "Yeah you rite!" from me. Although it's nice to get a little financial assistance from FEMA (thanks, buddies), and it's certainly helpful to commit money to community block grants and business development programs, what's the point without better hurricane protection?
Can you do us all a favor? If you have a blog, if you know someone who has a blog, if you ever post comments on blogs, could you please follow Michelle's lead and write something about how New Orleans needs significantly improved hurricane protection?
Fix the levees, and the people will return. Fix the levees, and the businesses will return. Fix the levees, and New Orleans will live again. Thanks!
12 comments:
Fix the levees and the college students who have come from the far corners of the country will be safe. *sigh*
Thanks, Tim. You're sure doing your part.
As you wish.
You got it...
Sophmom, The good news is that hurricanes don't sneak up on us. After Katrina, it will be a long time before anyone around here messes around when a hurricane is coming.
Laurie, Thanks a heap! My moldy house almost looks good on your blog. Almost.
Tim P., Your blog rocks! Thanks for posting about our plight. The entire Gulf Coast is struggling right now, and it's time for action.
Tim hang in there, things will work out in the long run. What I hope is that all that are there take a long good honest look at what happened. And make sure that the money is spent on the levees. If not in the future it will all just repeat itself.
I'm in.
Tim, just for the sake of discussion, I know my son is "safe" from post-hurricane flooding, because he always was and will always be, an evacuator. His brother has lived in coastal NC for the past 5 years, so I watch the things carefully. I called him at 2:00 Friday* afternoon and told him Katrina was coming and it might be The Big One, a scenario that the U had fully explained at Orientation (I'd read all the horror tales of floating balls of snakes and toxic soup). When Monday's classes were cancelled at noon on Saturday they were packed and the gas tanks were filled, and their little convoy of about ten kids in three cars, pulled out, stopped by school to talk a few determined to stay into leaving, and left town before the traffice. BUT... a commitment fixing the levees means individuals and enterprises can begin the rebuilding, and the rebuilding means expanded tax base and a general culture of growth, which means doctors and hospitals and policemen and all of the services we, in this country have come to expect our muncipalities to provide (basic emergency care).
I am also worried about the danger of some kind of attack. I can't help it. It looks to me like a huge, internationally exposed, vulnerability. I think all of our ports are vulnerable, but NOLA seems particularly so.
*I am still angry with the NHC for not moving the cone on Friday. They knew Friday morning where Katrina was going, but they only move the cone a tiny bit at a time, even when a storm radically changes track, as Katrina did as she crossed Floriday and entered the Gulf. By the time they put the cone on LA/MS early Saturday it was too late to effectively evacualte NOLA. JMHO.
I'm in, if I can ever get over my winhound problems. If you think petitions ever do any good, the top two links on my site are for just that. The second from Joe at Blagueur seems to be dying of neglect, but it might still be viable.
Man...honestly, I think Cat 3 levees will work, but they have to really be Cat 3 levees...not this jello crap. But for those who have read Rising Tide, you know that it's not just the levees; it's an entire system, with gates and levees and at the forefront: wetlands.
oops, That's Blogueur. Sorry, Joe.
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