May 31, 2006
Hurricane Preparedness
NY Times on states and how they plan to prepare for the 2006 hurricane season.
- the main strategy, it seems, is to scare the multitudes of people who emergency officials say remain blasé even after last year's record-breaking storm season.
To persuade residents to heed evacuation orders, the Florida Division of Emergency Management is broadcasting public service announcements with recordings of 911 calls placed during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
"The roof has completely caved in on us," a woman cries as chilling music swells, only to be told that rescuers cannot come out during the storm.
Speaking of the tactics, Craig Fugate, Florida's emergency management director, said last week at a news conference in Tallahassee, "We're going to use a sledgehammer."
This save-yourselves approach comes after government agencies were overwhelmed by pleas for help after last year's storms and strongly criticized as not responding swiftly or thoroughly enough to the public need. Now, officials have said repeatedly, only the elderly, the poor and the disabled should count on the government to help them escape a hurricane or endure its immediate aftermath.
That's amazing. Because here I thought government was supposed to take care of us. Now they're abdicating the duty!
At the end of day, the federal government will always be blamed. Because it's quite clear the states have washed their hands. Cities no doubt, as well.
Current Events Posted by AlexC at May 31, 2006 3:56 PM
I'm not quite so willing to give up on Federalism just yet. New York City and State performed admirably in 9/11, and Mississippi and Texas performed well in Katrina (sure, Senator Lott tried to get $3/4 Billion in corporate welfare, but all are playing true to form...)
Just because America's own third-world nation insists on electing corrupt incompetents lake Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco does not mean we should turn everything over to the Feds.
Posted by: jk at May 31, 2006 7:04 PMIt's not about giving up on Federalism. It's on giving up on government.
Roughly speaking conservativism and liberalism disagrees on the role of government. Liberals contend government can do it for you. Conservatives say you can do it better.
If the government can't protect you from the weather, you have to.
Posted by: AlexC at June 1, 2006 11:31 AMIf government officials, be they federal, state, or local, can't distinguish the damage done to Americans by the weather from that done or threatened by hostile foreign humans, it shows us that our concern should not be over the efficacy of Federalism.
Posted by: johngalt at June 1, 2006 3:38 PM | What do you think? [3]