Tsunami realities: Most in need are least likely to get help - (Stark, sobering facts.)

JEWISH WORLD REVIEW.COM ^ | JANUARY 6, 2005 | GEORGE FRIEDMAN

[CHARLITE]

I was awakened just after dawn by the person who had duty that morning telling me there had been an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale in the Indian Ocean, and that a tidal wave had already hit some coastal areas. I was told that about over 1,000 people were reported dead.

An 8.9 earthquake is an extraordinary event. We knew that there had been a tidal wave. We also knew that first reports in major disasters normally underestimated casualties. The reason is simple. In a really bad disaster, the first thing to go down are communications. The areas with the most casualties are almost always the last to be located. If reports from areas where communications were up were already reporting over a thousand casualties, the toll had to be horrendous. Given the geography of the Indian Ocean basin, with its crowded, low-lying littorals, we suspected, but couldn't know, that there was a calamity in the making.

... one of my colleagues wondered wryly how long it would take someone to blame the tsunami on the Bush Administration

The reality was that for most people, life-or-death fate would be played out long before any help could arrive. Some things are beyond human power, and far beyond politics.

[UCANSEE2]

Like I said when it first happened, 250,000 in two months.
Those needing the most will be last.
This is true now, and every time a disaster happens.
Everyone cannot be rescued 'first'.

We really are doing the best and fastest things we can to help. All nations, all people. The only thing better?

Less talk, more action. Especially the MSM. Dan Rather, grab a shovel while you're there.

[goodnesswins]

"Less talk, more action. Especially the MSM."

REALLY!! Bet there are many waiting for help while those who could help are acting as "tour guides" and "body guards" to the MSM and other government/bureaucratic actors.