Replies

"To: gpapa

Not enough emphasis from the ground on how hard the terrain there is with the number of trees down.
How did the reporters get there? What roads? flown in? In since the storm?
You can't just "poof" move supplies through an area where trees and electrical lines litter your path.
The complete lack of education and facts within reporting today is staggering."

You touch on an important point here, one I've not yet had time to bring up.

Blame equations come later, as I've said many times, but the folks talking about a "plan" or lack thereof, especially one involving any use of railroads after the storm, have to understand that a preparedness plan cannot count on any specific assets remaining in place after the storm passes.

You also want to think long and hard about utilizing certain assets before the storm.

Put a traffic jam on a causeway and let the storm catch it there and you have a big problem.

I wish they would employ the regular army for equipment and manpower to help with the work of removing debris, etc. There is so much more "boots on the ground" could do. I think I heard this is being discussed.

I remember after the hurricane here the base personnel were engaged in clean up on the base property and the troops were all over, along with all the trucks, heavy equipment. In less than a week it was all removed. Yet in all the surrounding areas the civilian population was struggling. It just seemed a waste to have all those men and equipment not engaged in assisting the people. Some roads remained closed for days because of the trees. While the heavy equipment the military had could have removed them so easily.

It seems a big part of the problem down in the Gulf area is even getting supplies over the blocked roads. Those are the things the military could handle, IMHO. Of course, I know that plenty of the military bases in the area are probably handling their own problems too. But, clearing the civilian roads would save lives, while cleaning up the bases just makes it look nicer.

Also, there are special divisions of the military that are especially trained in cadaver removal. Those personnel could be dispatched specifically to handle the dead. They have all the equipment and special clothing, vehicles,containers, body bags, etc. They should be there taking up this task. It is so terribly tragic to see all the human bodies everywhere when there are special forces trained to handle just that.

"..have to understand that a preparedness plan cannot count on any specific assets remaining in place after the storm passes"

Can anyone tell me why there weren't more boats, helicopters and supplies positioned 75-150 miles inland in secure structures ready to be redeployed to the ravaged area. I think I read that they even used NO as a mock up model for Homeland Security. But irregardless, it's as plain as the nose on anyone's face that either the leaders with the responsibility for that city's people had no feasible disaster plan or one hell of a piss-poor one. Haven't we all seen the picture of some 60 large school buses parked and surrounded by water. In the name of God Almighty, what in the world were they doing left there? I'll bet they could have brought out at least 2500 people! And they could have been parked somewhere safe after the exit so they could return to get those left behind.
Of course you can't count on assets left in place if you place them in harms way! But they could have been placed elsewhere. Corruption and ignorance (if not worse) are the keys to understanding the unfolding human catastrophe.