The Hurricane
1. My son's soccer coach works for a large trucking line. He told me just tonight that his company had been asked to send its refrigerated trucks to New Orleans to help store all the dead bodies until the authorities there identify the dead and figure out what to do. He said that the company had to refuse, because the trucks are used to carry refrigerated food. While the company was glad to help carry ice and other goods to help the survivors, it couldn't put dead bodies in trucks that are used for food.
2. Not to be a curmudgeon, but I have to ask: Isn't it about time that our public officials started talking about how deeply unwise it would be to rebuild a city that is 1) below sea level, 2) built on swampland, and 3) sandwiched between the sea and a really big lake? One might as well build a city on the summit of Mt. St. Helens.
2. Not to be a curmudgeon, but I have to ask: Isn't it about time that our public officials started talking about how deeply unwise it would be to rebuild a city that is 1) below sea level, 2) built on swampland, and 3) sandwiched between the sea and a really big lake? One might as well build a city on the summit of Mt. St. Helens.
posted by Stuart Buck at
3:17 PM
10 Comments:
Your question about rebuilding is an excellent one and not at all curmudgeonly.
We can go to the moon, but we can't pack a human body well enough not to contaminate a freezer truck? Nonsense. Use the trucks.
Questioning the reasonableness of rebuilding is a good exercise. I have spent a lot of time in NO. It is a great city. The best eating in the country. It's culture is unique and lots of fun in small doses. It needs to be rebuilt ... if we don't we will have lost something important. Besides, unless it is legally condemmed, the diehard NO types will still be there.
Right after a disaster, there is always lots of brave talk about rebuilding. It makes sense psychologically. But we will see if the rest of the country will be so willing to foot the bill -- and insure against future disasters. My suspicion is that once people fully grasp the task of rebuilding -- I assume that the sewer system and water lines and sidewalks etc etc will all need total replacement -- the issue will take of itself and the city will downsize itself. Of course I have never been to New Orleans and so maybe I am missing somthing which would put the matter in a different light. But national flood plain policy needs to discourage people fromliving indangerous areas -- not encourage them to live there.
Mr. Buchanan.
Just out of curiosity, how much would you be willing to pay to "rebuild New Orleans" -- whcih I assume means every structure and infra-structure in it? plus the necessary floor-protection measures? It all comes down to our taxes. How much is it worth to you?
Of course part of the discussion involves definition of "rebuilding New Orleans." I assume we'd want to do it better -- flood-proofing, which means rebuilding the Delta and then better housing etc etc. There is little point in half-measures and I think the cost will rule out "rebuilding" -- except for a small, symbolic, Disneyland of a French Quarter. Of course, as I said, I have never been there so maybe I am ignorant of NO's importance.
David
Fair points. Since I believe in less government and letting the free market run things I should be against rebuilding NO with my tax dollars.
First, I would be willing to contribute something to help out ... perhaps $1000 (we've already given that much to the Red Cross.)
Second, I can't imagine the Fed and state govts walking away from it. A small increase in taxes spread over all of us will slide by much better than 'distroying' the city.
Third, it is an important part of America (see above statements).
Fourth, sorry you never got there ... it really is/was special
Well, $1000 per American household will certainly be enough to rebuild New Orleans any way you want it.
If it isn't rebuilt we will need to find some place for those who work on the rigs, in the refineries and in the Port of New Orleans to live. Many will be able to afford the suburbs (when they are rebuilt), but those at the bottom of the wage scale will need houses, towns, schools, too
If it isn't rebuilt we will need to find some place for those who work on the rigs, in the refineries and in the Port of New Orleans to live. Many will be able to afford the suburbs (when they are rebuilt), but those at the bottom of the wage scale will need houses, towns, schools, too
Cool Blog, I never really thought about it that way.
I have a Hurricane Katrina blog. It pretty much covers hurricane related stuff.
Thank you - and keep up the thoughts!
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