positive side-effects of hurricane aftermath?

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

How many of the thousands and thousands of NO evacuees have never been outside of NO? These people are being moved to Texas and other areas, where they will start to build a life -- a life that will without a doubt be different than the one they were living in NO.

I think this could be a positive thing. The young people are going to end up somewhere they might not have ever gone, and that creates some opportunity outside of the six-block area that has been their only reality.

island911 · 09-03-2005, 09:22 AM

The lesson here is don't live/build _below sea level, next to a sea.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

I agree, and my point is that many of the people born into that area that haven't had a choice, are now being moved to other places, where they will hopefully find opportunity that they might not have.

island911 · 09-03-2005, 09:39 AM

I meant to only add to the good points you started.

To incapsulate the two points; those people are going to move on . . out of the Rut they were in.

johnco · 09-03-2005, 09:42 AM

does anyone realize that when New Orleans was founded, it wasn't below sea level? it was built on high ground. New Orleans has been there for almost 300 years and has sunk 3ft a century due to subsidence? That they have lost millions of acres of marshes that would have helped protect it from hurricanes? The surrounding towns were not built until the 20th century. levees that help protect it also contribute to the loss of marshes and wetlands. dont people build and rebuild other areas destroyed by earthquakes, floods, volcanos, tsunamis? How about all those towns and homes destroyed by forest fires every few years? In an area where most land is at or right above sealevel, where should they have built what has become the 4th largest port in the US?

tabs · 09-03-2005, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bryanthompson
where they will hopefully find opportunity that they might not have.

Like going on WELFARE

island911 · 09-03-2005, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnco
. . dont people build and rebuild other areas destroyed by earthquakes, floods, volcanos, tsunamis? ...

Goood points/post.

We are like ants on a rock, to some degree. I live in earthquake country, next to a bunch of large active volcanos. However, we don't have annual disaster seasons!

I just can not understand people who build on a river, on a layer of relatively high river silt, who think the river will not rise again soon.

Or, people who would live on a sinking ship (land) next to high ground. . .esp. when a there is notice of a coming storm.

turbo6bar · 09-03-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnco
does anyone realize that when New Orleans was founded, it wasn't below sea level?

Based on simple searches on google.com it seems the French guy decided to found New Orleans despite warnings against. While it wasn't below sea level, it was essentially swampland. I think this fact alone should provide sufficient cause to invade France by the end of 2005.

Flood insurance rates should be increased for New Orleans the next go round. Move the poor people out of NO. There are millions of square miles of undeveloped land in MS, AL, LA, and TX. These people don't need to live in NO. There's not much advantage to having the slums in NO vs. south-central MS.

johnco · 09-03-2005, 10:13 AM

at least we have notice. your disaster could happen today, tomorrow or anytime without much warning. most people that didn't leave at first notice never left for pretty much the same reason they are still there. no way to get out without transportation, no where to go, no way to pay for it. how much would a trip out of town, stay a few days to a few months, with no job, no money, no savings, cost? after hundreds of hurricanes over the years, who knew this one would would cause this much damage. every hurricane that passes thru gets pretty much the same type of dire warnings, but never this much devastation. you have earthquakes and volcanos? and you still haven't moved somewhere else? I just can't understand

island911 · 09-03-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnco
. .. who knew this one would would cause this much damage. every hurricane that passes thru gets pretty much the same type of dire warnings, but never this much devastation. you have earthquakes and volcanos? and you still haven't moved somewhere else? I just can't understand

Indeed; when warning is like a cry of "wolf" . .it's hardly a warning at all. (like our earthquakes here)

fwiw, When St Helens blew, there was warning . .. even though we were then new at predicting eruptions, the local geologists did a great job.

Unfortunately, now, there is much new constuction happening on top of old pyroplastic flows. . . .next to a volcano which is over-due for a St Helens sized, or bigger, bang. (They do have sirens, for those areas tho' . .. similar to our tsunami warnig systems - not exactly a "crying wolf" thing.)

johnco · 09-03-2005, 10:32 AM

turbo6bar, everywhere in south Louisiana is swampland.

johnco · 09-03-2005, 11:33 AM

While I believe some of the displaced persons will take this opportunity of getting out of the slums they were in, being exposed to new and better things and doing something with that experience and chance, most will just slide back into the same situation they were in sooner or later. I've tried helping several poor people by working them, giving them furniture and other things they need, exposing them to bigger and better things than what they are used to, taking them to areas they never would have gone... but what it all boiled down to at the end of the day was if they had enough money to get high that night. it didn't matter how much they were paid.. $10 or $500, they were broke the next morning. I was told by one guy that he lives for today, not tomorrow. he worked for me for 2 years, made decent money, had a full house of furniture and other things given to him by me, but in those 2 years, never managed to get his water or electrity turned on in the house he lived in for free. and he always bragged he had a college education. it's a mind set. he did more complaining about the white man keeping him down than doing anything about it. 40 acres and a mule was his war cry.

Flatbutt1 · 09-03-2005, 05:36 PM

Would that relocation could make a difference. Many of the evacuees are in this position due to a lack of education, low to no expectations of themselves and MAYBE a sense of entitlement. I don't know about that. Houston isn't wallowing in jobs. The evacuees have no qualifications for a "career" job. They will need training. They will need housing. They will need interim income. And all of this away from home. I don't see how relocation is going to be a good thing.

tabascobobcat · tabascobobcat's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by johnco
does anyone realize that when New Orleans was founded, it wasn't below sea level? it was built on high ground. New Orleans has been there for almost 300 years and has sunk 3ft a century due to subsidence? That they have lost millions of acres of marshes that would have helped protect it from hurricanes? The surrounding towns were not built until the 20th century. levees that help protect it also contribute to the loss of marshes and wetlands.

Sounds like it is time to get the f... out then.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

It will be interesting to see what will happen - I live 8.63 feet above mean sealevel. FEMA - yes FEMA will only let me improve my house 50% of the value of the structure. If I was at 9 feet - I could build till my hearts content.

Being that NO is below sea level - it will be very interesting to see what they do with the rebuild. Yes, it's a big port. Yes, you have the Mississippi River. On Sept. 8, 1900 Galveston was hit by a killer Hurricane that killed 6,000 people.

They shipped in earth and raised the whole island 15-8 feet - wonder if they would do that for new orleans?

johnco · 09-03-2005, 06:42 PM

"Sounds like it is time to get the f... out then."
sounds like a good idea to me. wait a sec... I have a better one. why don't we just keep all the oil, gas, chemicals, supplies of every type that comes through N.O. and sent to you guys by truck, train, pipeline and barged up the Mississippi, and hold it for ransom. aren't the strategic oil reserves in a hole in Port of Fourchon south of N.O.? we'll keep that also. then sell it to you when you're freezing in the dark up north and use the money to rebuild South Louisiana. you might actually need N.O. more than N.O. needs you. you have just had a taste of what will happen without N.O. just in the price increase of gas in the last few days. or haven't you realized that yet? There is NO high ground in south Louisiana. Nowhere that's safe from hurricanes. not much anywhere on the entire coastline of several states is safe. should we shut down Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama coastal towns also?

tabascobobcat · tabascobobcat's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by johnco
". should we shut down Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama coastal towns also?

If they are below sea level and sinking......I'd seriously NOT consider subjecting my family and myself. Was this the last major hurricane to ever hit the gulf coast or are there more too come ???

Fact : NO is below sea level
Fact: The pumping system can only handle a predicted category 3
Fact: NO is sinking
Fact: NO is surrounded on 3 sides by much water.
Seems like a recipe for a disaster.

Sorry if I pissed you off. That wasn't the intent.
I was just stating what I considered to be the obvious (as an outsider looking in granted)

The choice is your to make
Do what you think is best for you and your family
Good luck and god bless.

johnco · 09-03-2005, 07:11 PM

there will always be hurricanes.. and floods, earthquakes, forest fires, volcanos, tornados, tsunami's... the list goes on. where would you suggest the entire city of N.O. and surround cities and towns move to? have you any idea how this would be done? sorry if I am being defensive. I don't even live in N.O.. I'm am just gunshy from all the southern bashing done on this BB. N.O. is where it is. we live where we live and will continue to. as will everyone else that that lives where disasters can happen at anytime.

turbo6bar · 09-03-2005, 07:15 PM

johnco, NO wasn't the only place hit by a hurricane, but it has been the source of most of the problems. Be careful what you wish for.

WOODPIE · 09-03-2005, 08:38 PM

I never would have taken Bryan for such a wild-eyed optimist! Ah, the fortunes of youth!

And he's right, because life for people chased out of NO will be different, and they will have to make many, many decisions for themselves in the weeks and months to come. So, if a good option presents itself to them, and they make the right decision, they could positively affect their own future.

Now, drop the optimism and put on a realistic face, and tell me how likely is that scenario? Also, Bryan, tell me how positive it would be if the whole of the mass of displaced NO residents decided that their second most favorite place to live, after NO, was Nebraska?

Now, for me personally, one positive thing to come out of this disaster will be the totally entertaining value of the spin that will be spun on tomorrow morning's news shows. You know, the "No one could have ever foreseen the levys breaking" and the newest one, "We were prepared for one disaster, but not two at the same time", splitting the hurricane and flooding into two separate events. I'm talking coffee through the nose here, people!

No, the only true positive of all this, in my mind, is that it has become crystal clear that, should a disaster befall me or mine, I'd better be well prepared to handle it on my own. Everyone in this country should accept that as fact, and make their own decisions about their future.

Ed