[Tacis]

During some breaks from my honey-do list this afternoon, I watch Florida coverage on FOX. Their young guy (he does the "Around the World in 80 Seconds") was very positive about the pre-storm positioning of resources and the after the storm rush of utilities repair, FEMA, National Guard and help. Very positive, Lot of Jeb looking over the efforts stuff.

Didn't think of watching the CNN coverage but assume that it was negative. Anyone watching CNN or one of the other left-wing outlets?

[browardchad]

Amidst all the hype (including stories lamenting the "devastating" loss of bird and turtle sanctuaries), I was surprised to find a balanced look at the situation on the west coast by columnist Ralph de la Cruz in today's So. Florida bird-cage liner:

Big storms are in a category of their own

De la Cruz is also impressed with the speed of the relief effort, compared to Andrew's aftermath.

While you can never minimize the loss of life, most of the casualties appear to be elderly people who didn't evacuate -- many of them in mobile homes. When will someone with half a brain start asking local authorities why there weren't emergency plans to get the elderly and disabled people to shelters? How about their younger neighbors? We've spent many a hurricane watch helping our older neighbors put up shutters and clear their yards, and I know many people who have gladly offered temporary storm shelter to those who live in mobile homes.

It seems that there are a high percentange of such residents in Punta Gorda -- the So. Florida TV stations are now parading confused and devastated 90-year-olds before the cameras.

There have been plans by local authorities to move vulnerable seniors in affect in South Florida for years -- they've been tested, and they work.