Department Of Homeland Security Inaction At the Top

There will be a tsunami that will hit the East Coast of the US. It will wipe out most structures in Florida. It will swamp the coast of Georgia and South Carolina for about 12 miles inland. It will devastate the Outer Banks region. It will make Hampton Roads, Newport News look like Mississippi. Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania will be severely damaged. There will be about 30 million refugees.As we stand today we might get 24 hours warning but even that is unlikely.There will be a major eruption at Yellowstone. It will be the biggest explosion during recorded history. It will cut argriculture production by 25% minimum for at least several years.There will be a major earthquake along the California coast. At best there will be hundreds of thousands of refugees. At worst, the agricultural areas of California will be flooded by salt water and crop production may be ended permanently.These are but a few of the things that WILL happen. They are all overdue based on historical and geological data.Just as we have Social Security for retirement, we need a National Reserve designed to provide support when these things happen.I believ we can surviive Katrina and recover. But will we have the wisdom to be prepared for those listed above? Will we have the resources? Can we afford to divert $1,000,000,000 a day to other projects before preparing for our own future?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

The first step is to admit that there is a possibility of such things happening. It is the same thing with Global Warming. As long as we deny it as reality, it can't hurt us. When that fails, claim that it's a natural cycle.Exactly how something that's a natural cycle is less harmful than if it is human caused I'm not quite sure. And exactly why not preparing for it is the right response if it is natural, I also have trouble understanding.But then I'm old and slow so it's probably reasonable that I don't understand it.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Let's not waste time worrying about who did what wrong, let's start thinking about how to do it right next time.Investigating to determine blame is stupid, irresponsible and a waste of time, energy and resources. We need to start planning how to make sure we will be ready next time.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

First, if the evacuees don't know about the plan long before hand they aren't worth very much.Second, I've been involved in developing some such plans and frankly, most are pure crap. For example, one part of Savannah, GA's plan involved putting new signs on the Evacuation Route roads warning that many would be underwater and unpassable.Third, hell yes individual plans should be subjugated to a master plan. Preparation for this type of event will extend way beyond local, county or state borders. They have to be coordinated so that the folk in Michigan know their part in Katrina-like events.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

By whom?Ever been through a Hurricane?Ever seen the results from a Cat 3 Hurricane?How about Cat 4?If you live anywhere near a coast, ask to see the Hurricane Prepardness Maps. They've been available for at least 20 years now. Look at the storm surge limits for each classification.If the folk in Mississippi were surprised, then they just hadn't looked at the available data.If folk elsewhere were surprised, then they simply had not looked at the available data.If they were surprised about changes in the track, they simply had not looked at what happened when it went across Florida a couple days before.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Fema's annual budget = approximately seven days budget for the Iraq War.Seven Days budget.Approximately 1,500,000 refugees.Seven Days budget.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I don't care a damn bit about who was at fault or who should be blamed. That is in the past and frankly, I don't think we should waste many more resources trying to lay blame.My point is now, and has been since before we invaded Iraq, before 9-11, is that we are not using our resources in a way that increases our security.Increasing National Security.Would having a plan and capabilities to evacuate an area threatened by natural disaster help National Security?Would having the budget to make improvements to essential infrastructure help National Security?Would those two things also have use in cases of terrorist threats to US Cities?It's your tax dollars at work.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I'm on FEMAs site as I write this but I don't see the headline you suggest.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

You are making an important point, one that I've braoched here several times.There really are two definite approaches taken by folk. On is based on evidence. The other is based on belief.We invaded Iraq because leadership believed. They believed Iraq = 9-11.We did not prepare for Katrina because belief. Folk believed it was too expensive to prepare for a 300 year storm.Evidence said Iraq != 9-11.Evidence said there would be a 300 year storm. And that there will be others.Can we continue to have people in positions of power that work from belief instead of evidence?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well I sure as hell didn't. So you're wrong on that one.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Oh Yeah?Let's look at that.What would happen when a major hurricane made landfall just to the east of New Orleans had been widely known for many, many decades. It was as common knowledge as what will happen when the major earthquake hits LA.What would it cost to have plans in place to relocate approxiamtely 1-2 Million refugees?Are you seriously saying that having such a contingency plan sitting on the shelf and updated every couple years is beyond reasonable consideration?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Hell no we don't. Or for any of the other similar natural and man made disaster that WILL happen.The failure borders on criminality IMHO and is certainly shortsighted and foolish.If you knew there might be 1-2 million refugees, what would be the first item YOU would put on the list?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

But what can we do?Would it be possible to have lists of all the military bases that have housing that could be co-oped?This message has been edited by jar, 09-08-2005 08:30 PM

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Could we have a list of all the military bases that could be used for refugee housing?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I bet that the members here can write the response plan for a major catastrophic incident and do so in less than 100 posts and less than a week. If that is possible, then what is the excuse for the Nation not having one in place?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion