They All Saw it Coming
I don't like to stray too far from the funny, so I've been trying to avoid writing a post about Hurricane Katrina. But I was floored by something I read this morning and I feel like sharing.
National Geographic Magazine predicted this exact disaster back in October 2004. Check out this quote:
The next day the storm gathered steam and drew a bead on the city. As the whirling maelstrom approached the coast, more than a million people evacuated to higher ground. Some 200,000 remained, however—the car-less, the homeless, the aged and infirm, and those die-hard New Orleanians who look for any excuse to throw a party...
Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless, and 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.
When did this calamity happen? It hasn't—yet. But the doomsday scenario is not far-fetched. The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists a hurricane strike on New Orleans as one of the most dire threats to the nation...
In October '04, National Geographic saw it coming, FEMA saw it coming, the Red Cross saw it coming, and what did the city, state, or country do to prepare? Ordered a mandatory evacuation? "Good luck homeless people. Good luck to you tens of thousands living below the poverty line without a car. Good luck to all of you who are pennyless at the end of the month waiting for that September 1st check to arrive."
Well done America.
And definitely check out this video Diane posted on her site. Even Mr. Bill knew it could happen. Little dude's psychic!
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September 8th, 2005 - 09:49
Equally unforgivable? Having seen it coming 4 days in advance and doing nothing.
I mean, in 2004, it was still an abstract thought, so it could easily be dismissed politcally. But once you see the storm coming and recognize the facts (city below sea level, founded on river silt, listed as a known sinking city along with Bangkok, Venice, and Mexico City), you’re now in an emergency situation. Even if you can’t get everyone out right away, you ought to at least prepare to get in and try to salvage lives in the storm’s wake.
September 8th, 2005 - 12:20
Go check this post out JJ- and make sure to watch the video…
http://www.dianesstuff.com/?p=114
September 8th, 2005 - 12:57
So true, Maine.
Very cool Diane. Mr Bill is psychic! (though I couldn’t get the video to work)
September 8th, 2005 - 13:08
Yeah they took the video off the page for some reason. I found it in my dl’s and uploaded it to my site- here’s the url
http://www.dianesstuff.com/images/nola_mr_bill_knew.wmv
September 8th, 2005 - 13:11
Holy shit! Now that’s prophetic.
September 8th, 2005 - 13:51
We should have known it was coming. God sent Katrina.
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/083105nola.htm
September 8th, 2005 - 13:52
The National Geographic isn’t the only one…
Weather nerd in Indiana warned N.O. mayor
September 8th, 2005 - 14:17
Marc:
Repent America is a stinking festering disease spewing bacteria all over the internet. And they’re haters.
MooAlex:
Looks like that weather nerd turned himself into a blogebrity.
September 9th, 2005 - 00:57
They’ve predicted this for DECADES not just years. This is why I don’t agree with people who blame this all on the Pres…people knew this could happen for a very, very, very, very, very long time and NOTHING was done about it.
September 13th, 2005 - 15:06
Classic case of Darwinism. If you live 12 feet below sea level and a massive storm is headed your way, you have 4 days notice and you don’t leave…. car or not, get out. Part of the blame rests on the shoulders of the government, part of the blame should be shared by the stupid people who think that treading water or jumping from flooded rooftop to flooded rooftop are new olympic sports. It is horrible what happened to the elderly, handicapped and the children, and the conditions and events that unfolded at the superdome, but at what point when you are looking at any national or local TV news weather radar doppler whatever and see the RED SWIRLING MASS that is the size of the gulf of mexico bearing down on your town, the one that is 12 feet lower than the gulf itself, do you decide in your blissful ignorance…”I can ride this out” Then you aren’t reading this, you are face down, bloated, decomposing and bobbing in the shit and chemical filled waters. Survival is an instinct. I guess looting is too. Because you need a 27″ TV when your house is filled with water.
September 13th, 2005 - 16:35
Ummmm… No, i’m not going near that comment.