Of Warnings and Disasters
in the Places We Call Home
Back in 2002, I watched an episode of NOW with Bill Moyers where they talked about what would happen if a major storm went through New Orleans. If you have a few minutes, listen to the audio of this particular story. It’s from three years ago, but it tells us a lot about how we act on what we know. Here’s an excerpt.
I remember this program and I think of the other warnings I’ve heard. In Seattle, I worry about a catastrophic earthquake that could bring down numerous buildings and highways as well as the sea wall that protects downtown. In New York, I would have conversations about the dangers of a terrorist attack on the Indian Point Nuclear Plant only 35 miles away from Manhattan. On a global level, I think of everything we know about pollution, global warming and the destruction of so many of our natural wonders for too little in return. We’ve been warned about so much and I can’t help but wonder that we don’t take it seriously enough.
If you love your city, wake up to it’s strengths and it’s weaknesses and do what you can to make it a stronger and better place. And of course, if you have the means, give what you can to aid our brothers and sisters in New Orleans by donating to the Red Cross.
Permanent Link
Comments (4)
this is definately a wake up call for all of us..thank you
I’ve investigated the ramifications of the widely touted Indian Point rapid release scenario over a period of three years, and factually, much of the “warning” is inexpert PR inflation, by a few local groups hoping to close the facility.
The endless PR and activism barrage, intended no doubt in a helpful spirit, has erased the factual situation in the mind of the public, leaving only a sensationalist cartoon, which listeners either accept or reject, none of them prepared to unearth or pursue any other sources.
So… in the end…musings of the sort.. “I wonder just how vulnerable we ARE”,
are a strange amateurization of the disaster-mitigation field, pulling in
well-meaning folks with absolutely no basis upon which to participate, yet having been
hyped to clamor over whatever responsible professionals either are, or are not doing.
In the end, the competent portion of society–office holders and disaster staff at FEMA, etc. either pursue a “Total Protection”
gambit for some asset (Let’s say…the White House), or a “Let it sink” strategy, such as has been applied to our 70% minority Creole City in Louisiana, or some percent mix, somewhere between.
A total protection of our entire civilization
would have us underground, suited up, carrying MRE’s and waterbags with us everywhere,
and in fact….people will not live that way.
They take rollercoasters, oblivious to recent rollercoaster deaths.
They smoke, oblivious to 30 years of warnings.
They snowboard, waterski, mountainclimb, and enter into unwise personal relationships, for the feel of it,
and danger is actively pursued.
A dozen popular entertainment shows sensationalize trivial danger encounters
as “reality TV”…
and truth be told, no population anywhere has ever been safe.
(Near earth Apollo objects whiz toward us even as we speak)
I personally urge authorities to raise New Orleans, as Galveston was raised, but sadly, it probably is not going to be feasible, for a city so demographically “outside the box”.
In the future, before citing the Indian Point scenario as a “Known disaster waiting to happen”, please think of what I’ve told you here…. it’s been spun up.
Indian Point is as vulnerable as any other nuclear facility in this country. After watching the total failure of FEMA to protect the citizens of New Orleans, I think it’s more than reasonable for the citizens of other cities to question if they are truly safe. The lack of information on Indian Point’s situation does not lead to a scenario of safety and clearly just trusting the authorities is not an option.
Now Christian, in the future before citing scenarios as “Known disater waiting to happen,” remember that some of your readers prefer to bury their heads in the sand.
I personally know a Pennsylvania Constable whose duties include guarding water supply facilities, and he said that many of the things that we don’t hear would scare the shit out of us. Additionally he said that that homeland security even in areas outside of NYC are horribly underfunded and often mismanaged.
Sure, almost everything we learn these days as news is a kind of hearsay based on whatever is popular, or what some “official” says, or what will keep people tuned in, but how do we know the truth?
I tend to believe that the “worst case senario” is possible. It may never happen, but it doesn’t mean it can’t. We should prepare as best as we can unless we are really comfortable with situations like New Orleans. Unfortunately, there could be more that we do to protect ourselves at home if we only had the resources to do so. If only there weren’t a war we were involved in…