Katrina flashback

[ProSense]

One Year Later: The Real State Of New Orleans

Standing in Jackson Square on Sept. 15, President Bush stated, “This government will learn the lessons of Hurricane Katrina” and promised to “get the work done quickly.” But on the eve of Katrina’s one year anniversary, here’s a look at the current state of New Orleans:

– Less than half of the city’s pre-storm population of 460,000 has returned, putting the population at roughly what it was in 1880.

– Nearly a third of the trash has yet to be picked up.

– Sixty percent of homes still lack electricity.

– Seventeen percent of the buses are operational.

– Half of the physicians have left, and there is a shortage of 1,000 nurses.

– Six of the nine hospitals remain closed.

– Sixty-six percent of public schools have reopened.

– A 40 percent hike in rental rates, disproportionately affecting black and low-income families.

– A 300 percent increase in the suicide rate.

Eighty-four percent of New Orleans residents rate the government’s recovery efforts negatively, while 66 percent believe the recovery money has been “mostly wasted.”

Slide show: 9th Ward, New Orleans 8/06

Comparing the complexity of plugging a gusher at the depths of the ocean to the failure to provide for the basic needs (food, water and shelter) of Katrina victims is beyond moronic.

[Lerkfish]

1. Both are horrible.

however, the impact of the spill will likely far outweigh even how bad the impact of Katrina was.

You can rebuild houses and infrastructure, you cannot rebuild entire ecosystems.

[FrenchieCat]

2. If you don't count the dead people, you have a point.

[Cha]

3. I count the people who perished in Katrina.

[asphalt.jungle]

4. right on ... as long as you ignore that pesky "close to 2k dead" thing

and the tens of thousands (especially the children) who suffered some kind of PTSD.

anyway stupid dead people always ruining a perfectly good comparison.

[Jennicut]

5. You also cannot bring back dead people, but that is a pesky fact

that gets in the way. Nor the horror of people in the Superdome or the Convention Center. No water or food, no police to keep order, backed up toilets, trash and human waste, diabetics dying without insulin and people with medical conditions totally without help. Tell me what the bigger impact is? Yes, the Gulf ecosystem is screwed, people who live off the coast will suffer and lose their jobs. But they are not dead and not suffering in the way people were right after Katrina.

[Lerkfish]

6. yeah, I love how you guys spin what I said

sigh.

[ProSense]

7. "You can rebuild houses and infrastructure, you cannot rebuild entire ecosystems."

That's the point: a year later Bush was still failing at basic construction, cleanup and relief.

There is simply no comparing Katrina to an oil spill.

[Lerkfish]

8. I'm saying they are apples and oranges

in terms of how long and how deep they will affect the ecosystem and society.
This is independent of presidents, I'm talking impact.
Katrina was horrible, but its damage could have been rebuilt, if anyone wanted to.
The gulf cannot be rebuilt in our lifetime, I don't think.

Not sure why what I'm saying keeps getting misinterpreted. I'm talking size, breadth and timeline to cure. in that regard, as you say, there is no comparison. You just keep wanting to make this about Obama vs. Bush, and I"m just talking about impact to regions.

mmmkay?