dxAce wrote:

John Plimmer wrote:


This is the headline from this BBC report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4210674.stm

I am proud to say that as a little old South African in a third world
country at the Southern tip of darkest Africa we had a devastating flood in
my little town in 2002.
The skies had not even cleared from the raging storm when the air force
choppers arrived in force.
They rescued those in need, brought in emergency personnel and special riot
police to prevent looting.
Although the flood put out water supplies, washed away our connecting roads,
power and sewerage systems, mighty teams of specialists arrived within hours
and all services were restored within 48 hours except the roads that took a
few days longer. The choppers brought in food until the roads were
reconstructed.

I felt very proud to be a South African at that time and was immensely
grateful for the smooth running and super national rescue effort that took
place seemingly so easily, like a well oiled machine.

What happened to mighty America...???


Well, we're still here... and guess what? You're still in a third world country
that can't take care of it's own problems... do a Google on AIDS or a host of
other problems. And guess where your little third world country has begged in
the past? The USA. Guess where it will continue to beg in the future? The USA.

We'll be OK... I can't really say the same for South Africa.


What did the Federal Emergency Management Agency do...???


Exactly what they're supposed to do, considering the enormity of the problem.


Heads should roll for this debacle - it is inexcusable in a superpower with
all America's vast resources.


I guess we'll have to decide that issue. It certainly won't be up to you or a
third world country like South Africa to decide whether heads should or will
roll.

Have a pleasant evening.

dxAce
Michigan
USA


The Ace hit it on the money when the subject of "the enormity of the
problem" was brought up. We had the chance of viewing local feeds (not
the network magazine) from the various areas of disaster. The total
affected area by Hurricane Katrina is in the THOUSANDS of square miles
--- not a few hundred.

So, where do you start? What with?

Tough questions to answer when life hangs in the balance.

John