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KardynylSynysTyr -> A Request: The Levees Are Not Dry ... and May Never Be Again ... (9/1/2008 8:18:57 AM)
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Three years ago, almost to the day, the Gulf Coast - including the
cities of Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana - was
critically wounded by a rather large, blusterous "bullet" named Katrina.
Today, at some time between noon and 3:00 p.m., New Orleans in
particular could very well be mortally wounded by an even bigger,
potentially more dangerous monster.
Those that know me well are fully aware that I portray myself as an
"Agent of Chaos". Anarchy is usually my sermon, and dissension my
sacrament. I sow these seeds, generally, in an attempt to get the
general populace to THINK.
This morning, however, I write to you - my friends, companions and
colleagues - with a sincere, anguished plea. No agenda, no chaos ...
just a straightforward request.
New Orleans is going to die - again - today.
What the media is not reporting, at least not emphasizing enough, is
that the levee system in New Orleans has still not been completely
repaired and/or upgraded, and entire kilometres-long sections of the
levee system simply have not been rebuilt yet. The levee system to the
east of New Orleans and just outside the Lake Pontchartrain zone is a
myth. It does not exist, in large part, and that ... is precisely
where the huge storm surge is expected to hit the city the hardest.
Hurricane Katrina took the sash of "Most Destructive" from Hurricane
Andrew in 2005. What most of the press is not telling you is that
Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the *eastern* side of Lake
Pontchartrain, between Louisiana and Mississippi - in other words, the
*weaker* winds of the Hurricane were responsible for causing so very
much damage; and we are all still tearfully aware of just how much
devastation was wrought.
Hurricane Gustav will make landfall today on the *western* side of New
Orleans - meaning the much, much more powerful *East Wind Wall* will
slam into the heart of the city itself. Katrina was also a Category 3
storm when it made landfall, and is being referred to by
meteorologists as a "weak sister" in comparison to the potential
ruination that Gustav has the potential to bring.
While there is no question that the Crescent City is far, far more
prepared to deal with this storm than its predecessor, the simple
truth is that *this* storm is bigger, more powerful and will create an
even larger storm surge than the one that submerged the city in 2005.
It truly is going to take some kind of divine intervention to hold
those twelve to fifteen foot floodwaters from ultimately taxing, and
then breeching, the incomplete levee system.
The people of the area have left, en mass, this time. At least the
lessons of the past have prepared the population to simply survive.
Thanks be to a higher power that people, and the US government itself,
has been more effectively and efficiently prepared to deal with this
storm and save lives ... The bigger question is, however ...
... when Gustav ultimately weakens and then whispers into the pages of
history, what will all those people have to come *home* to?
Many of the citizens of New Orleans have already been financially
taxed because of the previous disaster in 2005. Investment in New
Orleans by major international businesses has been laughable at best
and the city has, by far, the highest unemployment rate per capita on
the continent. Only the forefinger of the Almighty Himself will hold
back the storm surge this afternoon. Hurricane Katrina made landfall
with sustained winds of over 120 miles per hour - on the *weaker side
of the storm*. Hurricane Gustav is predicted to have similar, if not
higher, sustained winds and will hit the city itself on its *strongest
side*.
New Orleans is going to die - again - today.
This misguided "cleric" is imploring everyone this morning for two
things - neither of which have *ever* been known to be muttered from
these jaded lips. The first is, no matter what "higher power" you
happen to believe in, just pray. Take a few seconds and just ask
whatever "gods" you believe in to somehow safeguard all those people's
homes this time. It sounds contrite, I know ... But ... Just ask your
"god" to give all those people something to be able to come home to,
this time, and without having to incur major anguish, loss and
expense. For those people that either couldn't, or wouldn't, get out
of the path of the storm, say a couple of words of prayer for their
safety as well. It certainly couldn't HURT to do so.
The second is this: Please put aside a few dollars this day. Be
prepared to send it as quickly as possible, to an accredited Hurricane
Relief agency, when called for. Our "community" (and I do truly
despise using that word, but in this case it would ironically be
appropriate) can make a contribution - even from this distance.
We're not immune to disaster ourselves, here. It is entirely possible
that we're a monster ice storm away from a critical disaster ourselves
- and we'll be wringing our collective hands asking for the *rest* of
the world's assistance.
This is undoubtedly highly unusual for me, to be sure. I am a nihilist
to my core and, usually, would welcome an act of nature designed to
give humanity a kick in its complacency. A "kick" is one thing: to
"kick" a community when it's already struggling to recover from having
the boots previously put to it is quite another.
Therefore, I implore all of you who happen to read this plea today: If
called upon, be prepared to make a difference. Be prepared to
contribute - something, anything - if and when it's going to be
needed. Some people who just finished rebuilding their lives are going
to be forced to rebuild them again, and we *have* to be there to help
them. To those that are ultimately considering volunteering their time
and skills in the inevitable clean-up in the aftermath, I salute and
encourage you to do so - again, if called upon and needed.
New Orleans is going to drown - again - today. Only God, or whatever
miracle you choose to believe can happen, can stop that from happening.
We need to be there to administer "Life Support" to a city (and indeed
an entire region) that is going to cruelly suffer for the second time
in just three summers. All of us, myself included, take our little
lives for granted. We should all be prepared to help.
The Canadian Red Cross would be a good place to start. For those who
have family and friends already affected by this storm in the
Caribbean (Cuba and Haiti especially), it isn't too late to try and
still make a difference. I will take it upon myself to research and
post other creditable Relief Aid sites that you may be able to
contribute in some way to, should that become (and likely will become)
necessary.
Otherwise, at least pray the levees hold, somehow, in eastern New
Orleans today.
Kardynyl SynysTyr
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship." ~ Greek
playwright Aeschylus
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