Oct 2004 prediction of the New Orleans disaster.

[swestrup]

The prediction was in the Oct 2004 issue of National Geographic and gave a good description of exactly what could (and did) happen to New Orleans. It mentioned that it was in the top 3 or 4 of FEMA's worst case disaster scenarios for America, up there with a terrorist attack on New York or a major earthquake in LA.

They also mentioned that the Bush administration slashed the budget for the plan that was drawn up to try and reduce the risks. Then again, in this case they may have been right. Not much work would have managed to be accomplished before Katrina struck. Then again again, the Bush administration wouldn't have known that either. *sigh*

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I don't really blame the federal government for the levy problem just because they did not provide funds to improve it. This has been a known problem to New Orleans for almost 100 years. Yes, Bush tuned down the funding that would have helped improve it... but so did Clinton, and Bush Senior, and Regan in years past. Also remember that the New Orleans could have voted in their own tax dollars at anytime to fix the problem in their city. There are many ways that they could have created a tax to get the funds - Mardi Gras taxes, a 1/4% sales tax, etc. People have to take responsbility for their own cities and not rely on the Federal government to give them everything that they need. I personally don't think that it is "fair" for my tax dollars to go to reinforce a levy in Lousiana that the people of Lousiana had not already tried to resolve with their own dollars (i.e. let my tax dollars help them rather than do it all)

[lasher.livejournal.com]

that was me above. i didnt realize that I wasnt logged in. oops. lol

[(Anonymous)]

Good to see someone supporting personal responsibility
-Jim
http://www.geocities.com/forpropertyrights
15:07 EDT

[lasher.livejournal.com]

yea, i am all for personal responsbility. certainly, it would make sense to help provide funding for the levy since New Orleans is like the 5th largest port for the US and huge amounts of commerce takes place there. i just don't think that the federal government should foot the entire bill... it should be a joint effort