Katrina and Common Sense
By Thomas D. Herzfeld
It is time to make some basic assessments about what actually happened with hurricane Katrina. Sometimes it is better to look at an event a little while after it has happened, rather than in the heat of the moment. Time should not be allowed to blunt the feelings of betrayal and outrage at what actually caused most of the catastrophe.
A Katrina-type disaster was both predictable and predicted. Predictability is a simple matter: the levees were built to withstand a Category 3 hurricane, but approximately half of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the US between 1900 and 1998 were Category 4 or 5. The extent of the disaster was actually predicted in the frighteningly prescient June 2003 issue of "Civil Engineer."
So for many of us, upgrading the levees is a no-brainer. But the Administration seems to be unclear on the concept - requests by the Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen the levees have been routinely slashed, with the money allocated to Iraq. Some has been restored by Congress, but the amounts remain insufficient for previously authorized projects, let alone new construction. We're not talking big bucks here; the amounts involved represent less than 5 hours of sustaining Iraq.
This mis-allocation of our tax dollars further defies common sense because it compromises national security. Terrorism is not the only threat we face: wind and water cause billions of damage to infrastructure and lost productivity every year. A few dollars spent on protection against these natural hazards will bring significant returns. But that is less glamorous, less obvious, does not involve the military, and generates no photo-ops. I'm afraid we can't expect much in the way of common sense from the people sworn to serve us.
Thomas D. Herzfeld grew up in Houston, Texas. He now lives in San Francisco.
It is time to make some basic assessments about what actually happened with hurricane Katrina. Sometimes it is better to look at an event a little while after it has happened, rather than in the heat of the moment. Time should not be allowed to blunt the feelings of betrayal and outrage at what actually caused most of the catastrophe.
A Katrina-type disaster was both predictable and predicted. Predictability is a simple matter: the levees were built to withstand a Category 3 hurricane, but approximately half of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the US between 1900 and 1998 were Category 4 or 5. The extent of the disaster was actually predicted in the frighteningly prescient June 2003 issue of "Civil Engineer."
So for many of us, upgrading the levees is a no-brainer. But the Administration seems to be unclear on the concept - requests by the Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen the levees have been routinely slashed, with the money allocated to Iraq. Some has been restored by Congress, but the amounts remain insufficient for previously authorized projects, let alone new construction. We're not talking big bucks here; the amounts involved represent less than 5 hours of sustaining Iraq.
This mis-allocation of our tax dollars further defies common sense because it compromises national security. Terrorism is not the only threat we face: wind and water cause billions of damage to infrastructure and lost productivity every year. A few dollars spent on protection against these natural hazards will bring significant returns. But that is less glamorous, less obvious, does not involve the military, and generates no photo-ops. I'm afraid we can't expect much in the way of common sense from the people sworn to serve us.
Thomas D. Herzfeld grew up in Houston, Texas. He now lives in San Francisco.
1 Comments:
Common sense should be added to the endangered list given its danger of extinction.
Thank you for exercising yours in this entry.
Post a Comment
<< E-Liberal Home