Now that we are all Monday morning quarter-backing this tradegy lets see if in the best of all possible worlds we could have got it right:
After the initial landfall on 25 August, computer models predict the future path of Katrina:
"There is a greater chance of future landfall in northern Florida."
So northern Florida should be evacuated and relief supplies for thousands of people should be marshalled, after all, everyone knows the storm is coming.
26 August, computer models now predict a path over the panhandle of Florida:
So cancel the evacuation order for northern Florida and now order the evacuation of the panhandle of Florida, after all, everyone knows the storm is coming.
27 August, computer models now predict a path over the Louisiana-Mississippi border:
So cancel the evacuation order for the panhandle of Florida and now evacuate the Louisiana-Mississippi coast. Hopefully the relief supplies for thousands of people have been moved and the people in Louisiana and Mississippi will respond to the third evacuation order issued in two days. After all, everyone knows the storm is coming.
28 August, computer models now predict a path over New Orleans:
So order the evacuation of New Orleans (hopefully they will believe yet another evacuation order as well). After all, everyone knows the storm is coming.
Less than 24 hours later, 29 August, landfall:
So all relief supplies simultaneously reach the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, as well as New Orleans. This despite the decimation of communication lines, the destruction of transportation infrastructures, levee failures, no electricity, rising flood waters, and a still raging hurricane throughout Mississippi and Louisiana.
1 September
Now all hospitals are functioning, police and fire departments are operating, and relief supplies are still flowing despite the decimation of communication lines, the destruction of transportation infrastructures, levee failures, no electricity, and rising flood waters.
The number of posts by you or your favorite newspaper prior to 29 August regarding what should be done in regards to evacuations and relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina: 0.
This lack of guidance from you or your newspaper is surprising. After all, everyone knew the storm was coming.
I look forward to your guidance when the next huricane is heading for the United States. |
