The misunderstood fact is that these items are not just lying around waiting to be used. There are logistical items necessary before these short term fixes can be implimented - you just can't snap your fingers. The waterways are probably so full of debris alone that it'll take days before a barge can be maneuvered into position. Heavy lift helicopters are also days away as well as filling the bags of sand - again, something you don't do at the snap of one's fingers. Its easy doing such back-seat flood control work whereas we don't have a clue from our computer terminals what is really happening or the full extent of the difficulties that will need to be overcome just to handle the basics.
anyone just see that shot of the water in the French Quarter on Fox? Wow
Well stated. Logistics. Dingy's, boats, ships, and helicopters need fuel/maintenance. This takes time. Those that are first responding (GO USCG!) are doing the best that they can with what they have.
They have some excellent logistics people just getting set up. I know the USDA is sending a whole slew of people that they use to coordinate wildland firefighting - their system is so good that the Army and people from other parts of the world come to study it.
So far this is what they are doing: HURRICANE KATRINA SUPPORT, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Emergency Support Function #4 is staffed at the Regional Response Coordination Centers in Atlanta, GA and Denton, TX. Two Type 1 Incident Management Teams have been assigned. One team (Custer) will establish a base camp at Port Allen, LA and the other team (Quesinberry) will be at the logistics staging area in Meridian, MS. A third Type 1 Incident Management Team (Pincha-Tulley) will establish a base camp at Stenis NASA site in MS. A Planning Team has been activated to the Long Term Recovery Center in Orlando, FL. Three Logistics Management Teams have been mobilized to Meridian, MS, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, and Beauregard, LA. Two more Logistics Management Teams will be mobilized to Meridian, MS and Barksdale Air Force Base, LA.
But it takes at least a little bit of time. With no power, no potable water, spotty communication and massive damage and flood, it is HARD HARD HARD to get stuff together. Especially when you're walking around shellshocked at something your life never really prepared you to witness, knowing not only you but everybody you know has lost everything.
And New Orleans is such an island anyway. It's almost cut off.
God bless the emergency workers.
But they are working. And things will happen.
""DUMB QUESTION TIME - WHERE ARE HELICOPTERS TO DROP 1000LB POLY PLY BAGS OF SAND INTO THE BREECH? WHERE ARE THE EMPTY BARGES TO SINK AT THE BREECH TO DO THE SAME THING???""
"The misunderstood fact is that these items are not just lying around waiting to be used."
Theres a gazillion vessels in the proximity that are not salvageable that can be towed to the breach and scuttled with .50 cal weapons in short order. This in conjunction with sandbags would greatly reduce the inundation of downtown NO
I know a thing or three about this and
"The misunderstood fact is that these items are not just lying around waiting to be used. There are logistical items necessary before these short term fixes can be implimented - you just can't snap your fingers...... Its easy doing such back-seat flood control work whereas we don't have a clue from our computer terminals what is really happening or the full extent of the difficulties that will need to be overcome just to handle the basics."
Nothing you write convinces me there wasn't a screw up, now or in planning.
If the "bags" or whatever weren't prepositioned for a breach, in any kind of weather situation, the planning was third world grade.