Devastatingly Too Little, Too Late

So the Washington Post's Froomkin said yesterday we were "virtually apoplectic." Perhaps the pictures everyone is seeing today might make people understand what we were fearing.

We were apoplectic because we were watching WWL most of the day on Monday, Tuesday, and again yesterday. It was plainly obvious from just the news coverage over a Web browser window that not enough was being mobilized. With the levees breaking, by Tuesday morning, while the President was strumming his guitar, it was obvious, at least to this author, that 20 feet of water would strand and kill tens of thousands.

I've heard that people couldn't have planned for anything like this. I call bullsh*t on that one. Here's a news article from the Houston Chronicle from 2001:

In the face of an approaching storm, scientists say, the city's less-than-adequate evacuation routes would strand 250,000 people or more, and probably kill one of 10 left behind as the city drowned under 20 feet of water. Thousands of refugees could land in Houston.
...
A big storm, scientists said, would likely block four of five evacuation routes long before it hit. Those left behind would have no power or transportation, and little food or medicine, and no prospects for a return to normal any time soon.

"The bowl would be full," Levitan said. "There's simply no place for the water to drain."

So the President doesn't read the paper, fine. Then hire people who do Mr. President. Nightline has done specials on an event like this for YEARS, turn on the TV Mr. President, or hire someone who does.

If we were apoplectic on Tuesday morning, it's Thursday morning, 48 hours later, and now I'm torn between crying and screaming, listening to the reports and then watching the head of Homeland Security talking about NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH. DO THEY NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT THE IRONY OF ALL OF THIS?

People are firing weapons at the obviously overwhelmed rescue workers, there aren't enough troops on the ground and the head of Homeland Security is talking about preparedness.

You weren't prepared for this Mr. President, and now it's so obviously too little too late for tens of thousands of people who have and are, still, dying. I'm so angry and sad right now I can't even express it.
Tags: Katrina