[fintstone]

Originally posted by gavinlit
Well I've been through a flood but not a blizzard so I guess I'm not really qualified to compare. I can imagine though that it's easier to keep falling snow out of the house than rising water. From what I understand, most of those stuck in NO didn't choose to stay - just no other option. Again, it's only what's making it through the media to this side of the globe.
One thing I do agree with (I think this might be a first fint), is that it makes a bit of sense to allocate funds to the levee thing. That seems to be the point of the thread to begin with.

If one does not plan/prepare...they are screwed in a blizzard. If the roof structure is not built to hold the weight of a great deal of snow, it will collapse and the snow will also be inside the house. Also, it is prudent to climb up and remove large, heavy snows. The problem is usually keeping the cold out, rather than the snow, since large snows are usually accompanied sunzero temperatures, downed power lines, and an inability to deliver heating oil/gas.
That is why preparations must be local...there is no reason to send snowplows to Florida....each situation is very different...but equally deadly.
Similarly, that is why local government should address such problems through the local tax structure instead of at the federal level. If it is cost prohibitive to make an area relatively safe...people will not locate there due to the high taxes and will opt for safer areas. The rest of the country should not have to pay for bad local decisions.
The city made no attempt to evacuate citizens before the storm other than to ask them to leave. They could have made evacuation mandatory, offered busses, etc. Then most of the police (who should have stayed) did leave. Then, instead of conmtrolling looters/crime, the local govt sympathized with them and allowed the situation to get way out of hand.