Surviving Hurricane Katrina - My Story

[Evo]

Hurrican Andrew occurred during the first Bush administration - and concerns were raised then about New Orleans and a potential flood.

The Mississippi Flood of 1993, during the first year of Clinton's administration, (which did threaten New Orleans) also raised concerns. The necessary studies should have been completed then.

I believe the issue of flooding in New Orleans has been raised every year since then.

Neither the Clinton nor current Bush administration were sufficiently concerned to protect New Orleans, and it is certainly about politics.

Nice to see an accurate view on things. Yes, there has been too much apathy for too long. I do have to question whether it is a good idea to keep throwing money at a location that would not naturally exist. I can't imagine how we would relocate an entire region though, although we have seen the demise of once powerful cities throughout history.

 

[dgoodpasture2005]

There are, or were, rather, ten thousand families in New Orleans who were too poor to own cars. Most of them black. How do you drive out of New Orleans if you don't own cars? There are buses in New Orleans, but they're just sitting their, flooded. Apparently nobody had the wherewithal to help people evacuate.

In addition to the poor, there are people too sick to evacuate. Doctors and nurses to help take care of the people to sick to evacuate. People who lost their livelyhood last year during the evacuation and were unable to make the risk to evacuate. Handicaped people who could not evacuate. Mentally ill who could not evacuate. Homeless who could not evacuate. Children of people who chose not to evacuate. Elderly people who could not evacuate.

To say that the people who did not evacuate deserve what is happening to them is absolutely disgusting, and anybody who makes such remarks should be ashamed of themselves.

Are they're looters? Yes. Is this exactly what happens everytime there is a natural disaster which results in total anarchy? Yes. Is it social darwinism to assume that everybody who is stranded in New Orleans is a looter, murderer, and rapist because of what happened, and therefore deserves no help? Yes. is it racism? Yes.

Sir, I'd rather let anyone of these refugees from New Orleans into my house, then somebody who sits back and let it happens because they're black.

As for Iraq, there's raping, looting, and murdering occurring not only under U.S. occupation, but by U.S. occupation, so statements claiming that the "liberation" (sic) of Iraq was a good thing is naive, at best.

thank you... something i can respond to that didn't call me a name or make me angry... (just joking... i guess it's just human nature to want to call people names) an intelligent coversation possible expressing ideas and views instead of arrogance, stubborness, and degrading of others selves and views... i choose to respond because i feel my integrity was attacked. Okay... but not once did i say they deserved it, i said they had fair warning... FAIR warning... they had their chance to get out of the city, whether handicapped or not, and everyone else in the city had a chance to save those who couldn't make it... and those who couldn't drive had a chance to ask for help, call other families, friends, family members, WALK for crhists sake... everyne knew how bad it was goign to be, their own mayor said the city was going to be damned. label me with your names such as social darwinism... but if this had occured, and everyone worked together instead of letting their humantics get the best of them, one of which i like to call selfishness, there would be no problems... why don't you think people helped each other? as i said.. if these are things that are wished and practiced, this is precisely what you get... no one helped anyone, and look at the situation, it's out of control... do i say that ALL are looters and murderers? no... but if even 25% of them are... and 25% of them have guns and they are shooting at helicopters and ruling their own groups of people through fearmongering... then how can anyone get into help them? does this mean i want them to die? absolutely not, it is just logically impossible to get any kind of help in there when you are being shot at! Yes and about the soldiers... that is very naive of you, the same thing happens here in America, and you are comparing what to iraq? yes that happens in iraq, is the world perfect? no, are humans perfect? no, do we mess up sometimes yes... does most everyone like to focus on the negatives... it's obvious to me... YES you see one fault and you try and tear down the world. if you're out to look for the negative, you will only find... if you seek the positive, it will seek you as well. And no sir, i am not racist... i don't know what the black comment about, NO is 66 % black.. how can anyone possibly be racist... a monkey's a monkey, a human's a human, a tree's a tree... we all consist of the same matter, the same material, the same sexual organs, the same brains, the same ears and eyes, for anyone to say i am racist, is an insult to me personally, and to my intelligence. To think that someone admits to the fact that there is looting and murdering going on in another country... with fellow humans of the World that he shares with... and his only answer is to leave it be... is honestly sad... and it is just another poor example of someones thought process being blurred because of political self rightous gains. Have a heart man.

 

[dgoodpasture2005]

If you don't want to be labelled a racist, the very simple solution is to stop expousing social darwinism. You did it. It's right there. If you regret it just apologize and move on.

And you're still blame the victims of Katrina for their misfortune.

sick, sick stuff. I hope you don't think of yourself as a Christian.

social darwinism, if that's what you wish to call me... i call myself a looker outer for the world, you call yourself a stubborn self absorbed political mongrol... right? Do i blame the victims... yes... i cannot find one reason not to... except for those very very very extreme few who had no chance to escape... the rest... yes i blame them... but who do you blame... you blame the president of the United States for a natural disaster... political greed has engulfed your mind, you cannot even think clearly anymore, it's all political. Every world crisis, every human disaster, you'll never help physically or try and help shed light and positivity, instead you will run to your anti bush cave and peer from inside with your beedy red eyes as you point fingers and laugh... correct? that is the mental image that comes across to me on anyone who immediatly points fingers at others, because a natural disaster happened... or because people were warned... or when life is lost, it's always your excuse to start badmouthing someone of the opposite party... HUMANTICS... they are so silly. did i not just expalin to you what racism is? racism is the same as racial profiling... no i do not look at someone and say hey they are blakc hey they are white... i say hey look... these HUMANS need help because they have a leader who rapes their wives, and murders millions of them with nerve gases... as for you... you'd rather we sit around and do nothing about... now that my friend... is SICK. Racist i am not... but honest i am.

 

[dgoodpasture2005]

and for the record... there is no such thing as racism... the only race i know of as to date, is the human race... and that's the only way it should be, of course until E.T. decides to reveal itself. exanding on your quote... do i call myself christian? no i do not... and I'm glad to separate myself from all religions, they are nothing but biased beliefs, and they constantly cast judgement on others. I myself like to be of my own religion, with my own views, and my own caring ways... and i have enough love to go around for the whole world... but only those who deserve it will receive it... the blind ones will not see the light.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The Astrodome is refusing any more refugees. Many more busses are already in route.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The word is D E S P E R A T E, not frustrated!

1 a : having lost hope <a desperate spirit crying for relief> b : giving no ground for hope <the outlook was desperate>
2 a : moved by despair <victims made desperate by abuse> b : involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration <made a desperate leap for the rope>
3 : suffering extreme need or anxiety <desperate for money>
4 : involving extreme danger or possible disaster <a desperate situation>
5 : of extreme intensity
6 : SHOCKING, OUTRAGEOUS
synonym see DESPONDENT
- des·per·ate·ly adverb
- des·per·ate·ness noun

According to CNN: The victims of this disaster are not "frustrated", as so many of our leaders prefer to say. The victims want to make sure that the politicians know this. Every time they hear the politicians congratulate each other on how great of a job they're all doing, the victims about come unglued. Is it any surprise that they have no faith? Would you?

When the rats are eating the dead bodies in the streets, as they now are in many places, and when you watch babies die from dehydration at the NO convention center, in fact two in one day for one reporter, "frustrated" doesn't quite cut it.

 

[dduardo]

The Mayor of New Orleans is flat out pissed at the reponse by the federal government. He said on a radio show that the President needs to get off his ass.

They STILL HAVE NOT blocked out the areas were the levees broke. They STILL HAVE NOT sent troops to the area. They STILL HAVE NOT evacuated everyone from the superdome. They STILL HAVE NOT provided food and water to people.

People are dying and the reponse has been crap and continues to be crap.

 

[russ_watters]

They STILL HAVE NOT blocked out the areas were the levees broke. They STILL HAVE NOT sent troops to the area. They STILL HAVE NOT evacuated everyone from the superdome. They STILL HAVE NOT provided food and water to people.

All of those are either factually wrong or highly misleading. The one that is "most wrong" (if such a thing is possible) is the second one. Just pointing it out so I can remember it for when people calm down and can discuss it in a few weeks...

One thing to consider - people have complained we did a better job with the tsunami relief. The types of things we did in the tsunami relief, we are doing now - but the tsunami relief went for something like three months. So far, we've just passed our third day.

editk, fine, I guess I'll throw some facts in here because I'm going to get a harsh response either way. For federal troops, there are thousands of federal troops involved. The National Guard doesn't have any aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships, for one simple example. But one thing people keep forgetting (which is what people are probably what is throwing them off on this issue) is that it is illegal for federal troops to participate in law enforcement. So most of the troops on the ground in NO, must be national guard.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-09-01-guardnavypresence_x.htm

 

[EL]

You must feel better now when help is on its way from Sweden!

 

[arildno]

The fact that the Bush regime is more concerned about a minor irritant like looting than bringing in food, medical supplies etc. is speaking volumes.

 

[russ_watters]

And you're still blame the victims of Katrina for their misfortune.

Two words for you: mandatory evacuation. We'll disuss that later...

 

[Hurkyl]

The fact that the Bush regime is more concerned about a minor irritant like looting than bringing in food, medical supplies etc. is speaking volumes.

Except that it's not a minor irritant -- it's running rampant. I guess, though, everyone is assuming that the looters are the same people that are besieging hospitals and driving off aid operations by shooting at them. I quite think that's a reasonable assumption, however.

 

[hypatia]

I am so grateful for all the aid coming from other countries, thank you to all who are helping. Clearly we can not do this by ourselfs.

 

[arildno]

Except that it's not a minor irritant -- it's running rampant. I guess, though, everyone is assuming that the looters are the same people that are besieging hospitals and driving off aid operations by shooting at them. I quite think that's a reasonable assumption, however.

People have a perfect right to take any measures to save their own lives.
By neglecting to bring immediate relief supplies, more and more people get desperate enough to engage in looting; i.e, the problem escalates.
Furthermore, the situation has been deeply aggravated by the policy of having an abundance of guns&pistols accessible to the general public.

The fact that there will also always be parasites who loots because they think it is fun&cool does not detract from this.

 

[rachmaninoff]

From the point of view of the most relevant person in this matter:

NEW ORLEANS - The mayor of New Orleans is seething over what he sees as the federal government's slow response to Hurricane Katrina.

Mayor Ray Nagin gave an interview to WWL Radio Thursday night and told listeners that he needs troops and hundreds of buses to get refugees out.

"They don't have a clue what's going on down there," Nagin said. "They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn — excuse my French everybody in America, but I am pissed."

Nagin accused state and federal officials of "playing games" and "spinning for the cameras." He says he keeps hearing that help is coming, but "there's no beef."

Congress is rushing through an aid package of more than $10 billion and the Pentagon is promising 1,400 National Guardsmen.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050902/ap_on_re_us/katrina_new_orleans_mayor
(Associated Press)

 

[rachmaninoff]

People have a perfect right to take any measures to save their own lives.
By neglecting to bring immediate relief supplies, more and more people get desperate enough to engage in looting; i.e, the problem escalates.
Furthermore, the situation has been deeply aggravated by the policy of having an abundance of guns&pistols accessible to the general public.

The fact that there will also always be parasites who loots because they think it is fun&cool does not detract from this.

I agree somewhat, but this only part of the issue. What about the hijacking of ambulances? Threatening doctors and aid workers? Armed assault? Rapes? That's the big deal. Some lady stealing bulk diapers isn't a "security" issue.

 

[arildno]

None of those actions would have happened to the same extent if you hadn't had the idiotically easy access to guns&pistols.

 

[EL]

Well, now we can see one of the disadvantages with to much guns in the society.

 

[EL]

Actually I thought of what the situation would be like if it happened in Stockholm instead. I doubt it would be anything like you have it over there, since here there's hardly any guns around, and maybe more important: not a lot of poor people...

 

[EL]

Shoot to kill!

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,693300,00.html

Soldiers have orders to shoot plunders. Is this true?

 

[arildno]

It is unsurprising, but saddening, that the Bush regime sets more value on a fantasy construct like "property rights" than actual, human lives.

 

[Astronuc]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_katrina_8

WASHINGTON - President Bush, facing blistering criticism for his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, said Friday "the results are not acceptable" and pledged to bolster relief efforts with a personal trip to the Gulf Coast.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/chitribts/20050902/ts_chicagotrib/navypilotsaysalotofpeoplestilltrapped
As they flew over the rooftops of New Orleans, plucking people from buildings and cars, the U.S. Navy helicopter crews from the base here began to notice the other people, the ones who hadn't managed to punch holes through the roofs of their homes or wade into the streets.

There are apparently National Guard - possibly 2000-3000 in NO to assist police. Another 1400 or so are suppose to arrive each day.

The Superdome area has not been completely evacuated. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050902/ap_on_re_us/katrina_superdome_evacuation_hk1_39

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/HurricaneKatrina/wireStory?id=1089255&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

It is not clear how effective the distribution of food and water has been.

Well I have not seen or heard official government words, but
Troops deployed in anarchic New Orleans with shoot to kill orders
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050902/ts_alt_afp/usweather_050902082649

 

[EL]

Troops deployed in anarchic New Orleans with shoot to kill orders

If it's true, then it's really sad...

 

[Astronuc]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_katrina_79

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum of the National Guard said 7,000 National Guardsmen arriving in Louisiana on Friday would be dedicated to restoring order in New Orleans. He said half of them had just returned from assignments overseas and are "highly proficient in the use of lethal force." He pledged to "put down" the violence "in a quick and efficient manner."

Nothing about "shoot to kill", but the comment "highly proficient in the use of lethal force" does seem to infer the use of deadly force. This is not uncommon in the US in similar situations. US law enforcement agencies sometime (can't quantify how frequent) approve of deadly force against looters and criminals who fire upon police and others.

Who would have thought things could get so bad in a major US city?


Major Developments in Katrina's Aftermath
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_developments

 

[Loren Booda]

Can the world help bring peace back to the United States?

 

[dgoodpasture2005]

Troops deployed in anarchic New Orleans with shoot to kill orders

I said that this would happen yesterday when someone insisted to me that we send military into these zones... but if that's what you wish... then that's what you get, face it, their lives are in danger because gangsters are walking down the streets taking pop shots. I don't think it is sad at all... if you are walking down the street with a gun, prepare to be shot at... if someone was walking down my street with a gun, i'd hope he was taken out too, just because NO is in a state of emergency does not mean there are no rules, please think more clearly guys. stop with the constant bush bashing, and think about what's going on, a lot of these people are abiding by no rules or laws. Bush warned them all to evacuate, that's the best he can do, now unless he had some superhuman powers that consist of hi,m being to personally go to every hme and take the people away under his arms, they all had fair warning... those who decided to stay... r the verey few maybe 1 or 2% that really COULDn't make it out.. i have sympathy for them... but the rest of them made a really huge mistake, and they should only blame themselves, and stop putting their faults on everyone else.

 

[dgoodpasture2005]

Can the world help bring peace back to the United States?

I think to say that there is no peace in the US just because NO's earea is devastated is an overstatement... but i do believe they can bring peace back to NO... humans are capable of so much if we'd only work together.

 

[dgoodpasture2005]

It is unsurprising, but saddening, that the Bush regime sets more value on a fantasy construct like "property rights" than actual, human lives.

analyzing this quote... i'd hope you are not against the war in iraq... that valued human life... or... was it just for the oil? political agenda's blur so many peoples vision now days, they contradict theirselves on multiple levels, without even knowing it. I'm sorry, i should not have went at you like that... but everyday i live, I'm getting more and more frustrated with peoples views and contradictions, just because they have a pre-existing hate for someone... and they don't even know why... so they just throw everything that happens in the world on him... but then when they start to see it his way, quotes like this come out (the president). So what do you want your president to do? Si around and let the people destroy theirselves (iraq) or get out there and do smething with military force (NO/iraq) ? just because it is not happening in your own country does not mean that we should not intervene, we live in this world together with each other, the only things that separate us are our country names, but we all bleed blood.

 

[TRCSF]

It is unsurprising, but saddening, that the Bush regime sets more value on a fantasy construct like "property rights" than actual, human lives.

No kidding. Just today and a photo op in front of helicopters he said he looked forward to rebuilding Trent Lott's house and how awesome it will be to sit on the front porch.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I am so grateful for all the aid coming from other countries, thank you to all who are helping. Clearly we can not do this by ourselfs.

Same here. I was so very, very touched to hear the list of countries who offered to send us help in various forms.

I heard (on the radio) that initially president Bush had said "thanks but, no thanks", but has now reconsidered.

 

[TRCSF]

Same here. I was so very, very touched to hear the list of countries who offered to send us help in various forms.

I heard (on the radio) that initially president Bush had said "thanks but, no thanks", but has now reconsidered.

Yeah, that was a real flip flop.

They said they're now accepting international aid, but the last I heard was that those big Canadian water purifiers will still being held up at the border.

 

[BobG]

Bush warned them all to evacuate, that's the best he can do, now unless he had some superhuman powers that consist of hi,m being to personally go to every hme and take the people away under his arms, they all had fair warning... those who decided to stay... r the verey few maybe 1 or 2% that really COULDn't make it out.. i have sympathy for them... but the rest of them made a really huge mistake, and they should only blame themselves, and stop putting their faults on everyone else.

I think your 1 or 2% estimate is low.

Here's a link to the poverty level, by neighborhood, in New Orleans: http://www.gnocdc.org/mapping/docs/Poverty.pdf

Here's a link to the age and household makeup in New Orleans: http://neworleans.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm.
11.69% are over 65 with 5.7% over 75. 14.2% are single mothers with kids under 18, a group that has a strong tendency towards financial instability.

This link shows a satellite image of New Orleans after the flood: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/interactive/fullpage.nola.flood/katrina.html%20

Saying "Evacuate" isn't the same as having a plan for evacuation. The elderly and single mothers with children aren't going to cover very miles per day walking. At best, they might reach a different part of the city, where they then need to find shelter in the middle of a storm, which is why the Superdome was opened as a shelter - it's pretty much recognized that evacuation isn't an option for many.

New Orleans provides some pretty good insight into how far the Department of Homeland Defense has progressed since its creation. This was an ideal first test - hurricanes provide prior warning and are a common enough event that comprehensive contingency plans can be developed ahead of time. They definitely need some improvements in their plans.

 

[rachmaninoff]

Edit: There's a great article today in the New York Times: New Orleans Mayor,in Tears, Blasts Washington's Response.

...

Same here. I was so very, very touched to hear the list of countries who offered to send us help in various forms.

I heard (on the radio) that initially president Bush had said "thanks but, no thanks", but has now reconsidered.

So by accepting foreign help he implies that vital aid is necessary (or very helpful), yet he initally turns it down? Arrogance, or just being a moron?

New Orleans provides some pretty good insight into how far the Department of Homeland Defense has progressed since its creation. This was an ideal first test - hurricanes provide prior warning and are a common enough event that comprehensive contingency plans can be developed ahead of time. They definitely need some improvements in their plans.

Quite true. "Some improvments" might be an understatement.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_washington_15

WASHINGTON _ - Congress moved Friday to send a $10.5 billion down payment for immediate rescue and relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina's sweep across the nation's Gulf coast, amid complaints that the government's response has been inadequate.

The House convened early in the afternoon to pass the emergency package after the Senate approved it Thursday night. President Bush was expected to sign it later Friday.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said the bill was only the first step toward a "comprehensive, long-term response to the Katrina disaster."...

"Make no mistake, this $10.5 billion is initial relief," DeLay said

"Initial relief" from congress - on day 5.

 

[russ_watters]

Well I have not seen or heard official government words, but
Troops deployed in anarchic New Orleans with shoot to kill orders
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050902/ts_alt_afp/usweather_050902082649

Just a general FYI for those upset about this, "shoot to kill" were words written by the reporter who wrote the story, not the government officials quoted in it. The aricle does not provide any specifics on how the troops have been ordered to conduct themselves.

 

[russ_watters]

No kidding. Just today and a photo op in front of helicopters he said he looked forward to rebuilding Trent Lott's house and how awesome it will be to sit on the front porch.

Do you have a link to that quote?

 

[robphy]

Just word on "Mandatory Evacuations" in New Orleans...
we've been told repeatedly [even as recently as mid August] that a Mandatory Evacuation would never be declared in New Orleans because of the inability to evacuate a signficant portion of the population (about 100,000) who don't have the means to do so. I was of course stunned when I heard that the usual Voluntary Evacuation was upgraded to Mandatory.

As posted earlier, detailed aerial photos are at
http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/katrina/ (more are available now)

Here is a full transcript of Mayor Nagin's WWL radio interview.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nagin.transcript/index.html
(There is a link to the audio, which carries a lot more emotion than the printed text.)

 

[TRCSF]

Do you have a link to that quote?

www.cnn.com

It was under latest video. "Order Will Be Restored," they may have moved it.

If anybody forgets who Trent Lott is, he was the senator who got in hot water after saying the country would be a better place if white supremacist Strom Thurmond had been elected president.

 

[Kalimaa23]

I've been watching the news in horror all day. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the people of Louisianna, Mississipi and anyone else affected by this tragedy.

The desperate call for aid from the New Orleans mayor was truly heartbreaking. I sincerely hope that the US authorities will soon get their act together and do their best to aid those in need.

I get the impression that today the rest of the world finally grasped the full magnitude of this disaster. The US has always been ready to help countries in need, now is the time to return to favour. The Belgian foreign minister has just declared that Belgium will be deploying a part of the fast intervention force of the Belgian Army, to aid with logistics and medical care. Also, it has been decided that part of the Belgian fuel reserves will be shipped to the US to aid the resulting energy crisis.

Let's just hope that those poor folks over there will get the help they need. Soon.

 

[russ_watters]

"Initial relief" from congress - on day 5.

You expected...what? 5 days for Congress to respond is like lightning. That has nothing to do with, for example, the national guard troops who were on the ground within a day.

 

[russ_watters]

www.cnn.com

It was under latest video. "Order Will Be Restored," they may have moved it.

Thank you. Such things sound a lot different when taken in context.

 

[Evo]

I've been watching the news in horror all day. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the people of Louisianna, Mississipi and anyone else affected by this tragedy.

The desperate call for aid from the New Orleans mayor was truly heartbreaking. I sincerely hope that the US authorities will soon get their act together and do their best to aid those in need.

I get the impression that today the rest of the world finally grasped the full magnitude of this disaster. The US has always been ready to help countries in need, now is the time to return to favour. The Belgian foreign minister has just declared that Belgium will be deploying a part of the fast intervention force of the Belgian Army, to aid with logistics and medical care. Also, it has been decided that part of the Belgian fuel reserves will be shipped to the US to aid the resulting energy crisis.

Let's just hope that those poor folks over there will get the help they need. Soon.

It's really heartwarming to see other countries coming to our aid.

 

[Astronuc]

RMS Expects Economic Loss to Exceed $100 Billion
from Hurricane Katrina and the Great New Orleans Flood
from http://www.rms.com/NewsPress/PR_090205_HUKatrina.asp

Initial Hurricane Storm Surge Leads to Second Flooding Catastrophe When Levees are Breached in New Orleans

Newark, Calif. – September 2, 2005 – Risk Management Solutions today announced that the economic loss from Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding in New Orleans is expected to exceed $100 billion. Losses are resulting from two separate catastrophic events: first, the landfall of Hurricane Katrina in southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi on August 29 causing extensive wind and coastal surge damage; and second, the Great New Orleans Flood which has resulted from failure of the levee systems that protect New Orleans. At least 50% of total economic loss is expected to come from flooding in New Orleans, in addition to hurricane losses from wind and coastal surge, infrastructure damage, and indirect economic impacts. RMS issued preliminary insured loss estimates of up to $25 billion on Monday for Hurricane Katrina, prior to evidence of levee failure and flooding in New Orleans that was reported on Tuesday, August 30.

The 2005 Great New Orleans Flood has developed into the most damaging flood in U.S. history. RMS currently estimates that at least 150,000 properties have been flooded, surpassing the previous U.S. record from flooding and levee failures on the Lower Mississippi river in 1927, which inundated 137,000 properties. Hurricanes of category 4 or 5 strength are well-understood to occur in this region of the country, yet the levee system in New Orleans was designed only to protect against a category 3 strength storm. The insufficient level of flood protection offered by the city’s levees has been exacerbated by shortcomings in preparedness.

According to the 2005 RMS® U.S. Industry Exposure Database, insured value in Orleans parish alone is nearly $40 billion, and total value in the 7 parishes surrounding the city is over $110 billion. This property is not only susceptible to wind damage, but severe flooding that could result from storm surge breaching the levees that surround New Orleans.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earlier this morning - before the flood damage was assessed

RMS Increases Insured Loss Estimate for Hurricane Katrina to $20-$35 Billion
Insured Losses from Levee Breaks in New Orleans Still Under Evaluation

Newark, Calif. – September 2, 2005 – Estimated insured losses from Hurricane Katrina’s direct impact have increased to $20-$35 billion, as announced by today Risk Management Solutions (RMS), the world’s leading provider of products and services for the management of catastrophe risk.

On August 29, the day of Katrina's landfall, RMS was projecting $10-25, but that was before New Orleans flooded.

August 26, 2005 - Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a provider of products and services for the management of catastrophe risk, said that insured losses from Hurricane Katrina's first landfall in the U.S. are likely to range from $1 to $2 billion, based on current information on landfall location and wind speeds. Additional losses are expected from Katrina's second landfall, which is forecast to occur on Monday, August 29.

Well we will just have to wait and see, and that will take a year or more, and that assumes no other hurricane comes along.

 

[meteor]

I don't want to make fun of this tragedy at all, but as a curious note, is possible to explore the state of New Orleans after the hurricane in Google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=New+Orleans&t=e

The Superdome can be seen without roof

 

[robphy]

I don't want to make fun of this tragedy at all, but as a curious note, is possible to explore the state of New Orleans after the hurricane in Google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=New+Orleans&t=e

The Superdome can be seen without roof

These are also useful to folks who want to see how badly the flooding affected their dwellings. I'm glad that Google included these recent photos in their nifty interface. One can more easily do a "before and after" comparison of a specific street address [...well, almost, there seems to be a slight alignment problem].

Here is a more detailed view of the Superdome:
http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/katrina/new_orleans_pshsuperdome_aug31_05_dg.jpg as part of
http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/katrina/
and even more detail with
http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/katrina/24429370.jpg as part of
http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

5 days for Congress to respond is like lightning.

Somewhere I heard a rebuttal to this argument, but I haven't been able to verify the truth of it. Perhaps someone can google it better than I did. The rebuttal is that Congress convened in 24 hours in the case of Terry Schiavo.

 

[Maxwell]

What are they going to do about the diseases that are going to run rampant with all of the dead bodies sitting in water for so long? Won't the people staying around town become infected with something?

I haven't really heard much mention of the disease/health aspect of this aftermath. But then again, I'm no expert on the spread of diseases or anything.

 

[BobG]

Somewhere I heard a rebuttal to this argument, but I haven't been able to verify the truth of it. Perhaps someone can google it better than I did. The rebuttal is that Congress convened in 24 hours in the case of Terry Schiavo.

I'm not sure it was that quick, unless they're pegging some small, very specific point in the process.

The US Supreme Court denied a hearing about 11:00 on a Friday night and Congress returned from Easter recess, met and passed their Schiavo bill on Sunday. Bush rushed back to DC from Texas and signed the bill a little after Midnight, in the early hours of Monday. So, it took a little over 48 hours to actually pass legislation for Schiavo.

 

[dduardo]

Why did the government wait until after the storm to get mobilized? They knew this storm was going to be catastrophic. They could have atleast stationed the national guard and others close enough to the affected areas for imediate action. They could have also prepared ahead of time a method to blockade any broken levees.

I'm sure the terrorists are taking note of what just happened and how unprepared Americans are.

 

[BobG]

Why did the government wait until after the storm to get mobilized? They knew this storm was going to be catastrophic. They could have atleast stationed the national guard and others close enough to the affected areas for imediate action. They could have also prepared ahead of time a method to blockade any broken levees.

I'm sure the terrorists are taking note of what just happened and how unprepared Americans are.

If only the federal government could respond as rapidly as the Katrina scammers.

 

[arildno]

If only the federal government could respond as rapidly as the Katrina scammers.

Another matter:
If all the swarming journalist teams yapping about in runt had actually been decent individuals and put their personal efforts into actually providing help, rather than being mere observers, quite a few human lives would have been saved.