Katrina Devastation - Toll Still Not Known

I watch the reports coming in from across the path that Katrina has followed and I find tears in my eyes. The emotions are complex. I have no personal attachment to any of the places battered by Katrina and the aftermath, but I feel the loss in people's lives; I see the destruction of the environment, I see the dogs standing on roofs alone - their owners where - dead inside or evacuated? But there is more there as I can't help but extrapolate the impacts forward in time. I feel a sense of trepidation and fear.

One look at the devastation covering three states tells you that people are not going to be getting on with their lives next week, and maybe not next year. Not only is there total devastation in many areas, but the toxic load alone may make wide areas essentially uninhabitable. Will the areas be rebuilt? I have no doubt they will - poisoned environment or not. After all, this is one of the primary petroleum product lifelines into the United States, and that destruction will reverberate throughout the country. A winter that was already predicted to be very bad because of increased cost of heating oil, natural gas, and gasoline, suddenly has taken on potentially catastrophic proportions.

I had previously had visions of people freezing to death this winter. That vision is now in sharp focus.

Not to minimize the total disaster, but the situation in New Orleans captures me on a variety of levels. Part of it is that things are still getting worse there. The disaster is not over, but expanding. The water still rises. The chemical plants, refineries, and who knows how many gas stations are under water. The water glistens with an oily sheen and people report the smell of gas. Gasoline I presume, but natural gas is surely in the deadly stew.

I heard that the Mayor of New Orleans has called for a total evacuation. The Super Dome is being evacuated - thankfully. I couldn't believe they were going to pour more and more people into an enclosed facility with no sanitation, fresh water, or electricity. One presumes it is because there is concern that this primary facility could be totally isolated by the rising water. But I have fleeting images of the water on fire from a spark or explosion; people falling ill because of the toxins - or when desperation drives them to drink from the deadly stew surrounding them.

Those who evacuated before the storm are told to stay away. They may not be able to return "home" for a month or more - likely more is my guess. How long before the resources of those who left are exhausted? How long could you go without a paycheck with all of the expenses of not being home? I wonder if the mortgage holders will demand mortgage payments?

CNN had a reporter at an evacuation point. People being brought out of New Orleans waiting to get on school buses for unknown destinations north. On their way to one emergency center or another, or perhaps to rapidly constructed tent cities. It was striking that of the hundreds waiting to the buses, the overwhelming majority were African American. Perhaps that is coincidence, but I think not. My guess is that these evacuees are mainly those who did not have the resources to evacuate before disaster.

There have been reports of looting. It is interesting to hear that posed as "lawlessness." Particularly when you have people who have NOTHING - no food, no dry clothes, no medicines, no matches, no shoes. Here they are with nothing, and with flood waters rising. It is a question of survival. The odds are that those stores are going to be under water soon with all contents destroyed. They are already significantly damaged (and not just from looting). Some may think I am just "justifying" the activity, but the context is important don't you think? What would you do in that situation? If all you had was wet night clothes and were barefoot in that mess, would you "loot" some clothes and shoes? If you and your children hadn't eaten in 24 hours, would you grab some canned goods ... maybe a blanket or two? I am pretty sure I would, and I am not a "criminal" or without "morals" or respect for law.

Like the devastation of the hurricane, the "trickle down" effect across the country in terms of the skyrocketing cost of petroleum products are going to hit those with the least first, and then work its way up the economic chain. Like the hurricane, any response to the disaster is likely to be after the fact. Bush already cut the funds for the winter emergency heating programs. Do you think anyone will think to put those programs back in place before people start dying? I don't think that is any more likely than setting up the relief camps before the hurricane and bringing in school buses and ambulances to take those without transportation or resources out of harm's way.

Many people are already feeling strapped by the increase in gas prices. Food banks are already seeing increasing requests, and people are moderating their groceries to afford to go to work. As prices continue to rise, those with a bit more money will be "stretching" as well. How generous will people be as things get tighter? Where will organizations and local governments get the funds to address increasing needs? You can bet that this is going to effect the national economy. Unfortunately, we are only half way through the hurricane season, the most active part of the season is in front of us.

Well, one disaster at a time. Right now there is a need for money to provide aid to those devastated by Katrina. If you can spare some money, pick your favorite organization working in the area, or you can check out those below.

Northwest Medical Teams

American Red Cross
Phone: 1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7609)

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.

Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.

Humane Society - Katrina Disaster Fund

Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Posted by rowan at August 30, 2005 9:30 PM | [eMail this article!] |