L.a. times

SciGuy: Topics into the Tropics: Katrina, FEMA and ME. A science blog with Eric Berger. A tropical system that bears watching. Topics into the Tropics: Katrina, FEMA and ME Katrina larva its landfall A year ago on Monday. 11 -- FEMA ranked the following events as the top three catastrophes facing the United States:. Let's vote emergency ton allow FEMA ton make any more predictions. Wow, that which just A year ago, it seems like more another century. I recall that your 2001 story larva of national headlines during the Katrina catastrophe. I think that's where I quit looking, but I think I reported this in A COMMENT or email ton you. Surely others did have ACCESS ton the knowledge. Growing UP so much on the Gulf Coast, it which always known that A storm could eventually wreck new Orleans. My Grandfather which friends witht he more engineer who built the great pumps for new Orleans and designed its flood control system. FEMA which right on TRACK with its predictions. FEMA responded heroically wave in Newy York and Katrina. There which thus to extensive article in national Geographic magazines in October, 2004, that dealt with what would happen if A hurricane struck NOLA:. Very interesting reading, I thought -- and quietly think. I'm writing ton make A minor request: Would you indicate the length OF your podcasts in your posts. For more whatever reason I can't seem ton discern that information and emergency having it makes it more harder for ME ton decide when I wants to list ton the cast. The to who: Who GET the most money this time. I hate ton say it, but TD #5 is heading towards the waters which generated in such a way many category 5 hurricanes during 2004 and 2005. It sort OF of makes you expect the worst. There's NO telling how bath things could become NEXT week. If emergency this storm, maybe more another. There's plenty OF time left into the 2006 hurricane season for Florida ton receive three or four hurricanes (as occurred in 2004 and 2005). Since I at the on vacation NEXT week, I DO have the option OF escaping from the hurricane should it approach Florida. There's plenty OF good places ton evacuate. South Carolina and North Carolina, in particular. Emergency from the of wind but instead the flooding rains. One OF the roads heading ton of Cherokee, numerical control had washed out. A hurricane in 2006 is emergency nearly as great A catastrophe as hurricanes into the near future, say about 2012 and beyond.75 A gallon (locally) it is relatively easy ton evacuate, I'd hate ton face this same decision while gasoline is $5. We'll have some major of problem into the future. Best ton of suffer A manageable catastrophe now than face the tsunami scale catastrophes OF the future. And A POINT wants come into the future into which those things which Nature tears down humans wants emergency repair nor replace. New Orleans ' slow non recovery is on early indication OF things ton come. The entire Eastern coast OF the the USA is RK risk from A long was OF attrition between the natural forces OF erosion. Ultimately, nature wins that battle, as it always have. There of acres plenty OF of ruin into the world which all serve as muted prophecies OF the future OF American coastal civilization. On A slightly related note, I at reading "A History OF the end to OF the World" by Jonathan Kirsch. It's about the most interesting and leases comprehensible book into the Bible, the Revelation OF pc. The subject appears tons fit the times. RK this time OF great more danger, the only question is: Which catastrophe wants knock US down roofridge. CAN incoming goods GET A transcript OF the podcast in RK leases eight LANGUAGES. Your prescient and thoughtful writing on this is one OF the high POINTS into the public discourse on this topic. But thanks tons of Babelfish I'll give you one. Hello is this Eric Berger, and you hear to my weekly topics and to the Tropics podcast, which appears during the hurricane season. It is one year, since hurricane formed Katrina landfall. Personally and selfishly, it was an important time for me. Afterwards this experience carried out my publishers the full potential one blog as platform for breaking messages. During this week mine got blog much of traffic and the attention to the chronicle. It probably always changed, as we break messages here cover. My history had a perceptible difference however an opening anecdote, which examined particularly prescient after Katrina. The short answer is Yes. permitting you now me to divide the long version. With computer models, which simulated inundation of a large hurricane, it described the film script, which played out later in new Orleans. I decided to write a history which began with these FEMA anecdote: New Orleans sinks. Massif an earthquake in San Francisco and, nearly prophetisch, a terrorist attack on New York town center. The new Orleans hurricane film script can be by all the deadliest. My notes of the time period are gone. Approximately five weeks after I history wrote, became I drawn, in order to cover case of bankruptcy Enrons. I asked over for Levitan after Katrina, if he remembered the FEMA point, and he. Levitan said that he heard it first of walter Maestri, director of the urgency management in the Jefferson municipality. Levitan said that he heard the same thing later of a FEMA loudspeaker at the conference, the summers. Allbaughs official notes of the conference of hurricane of the Staatsangehoerig-2001 do not mention the film scripts. Then another history in of Los Angeles looked approximate the times one week, after Katrina formed landfall. First on the list a terrorist attack was in New York. Superstrength was a hurricane in second place, which strikes new Orleans. Third was a main earthquake on the San Andreas disturbance. I approached the LA Jones after times, which let history run, and she examined the account. I divided all these information with FEMA. One year, later, which they have never. I believe also, after the Sept. 11 attacks, the whole this work over natural catastrophes aside set keep in favor of a focus on terrorist attacks. One year, later, which I think, to say is sure that hurricanes are a priority for FEMA. Good-bye for now and you are to be visited surely, my SciGuy blog for all newest hurricane updates. The new Orleans "accident waiting tons happen" has been around for many decades. I know most want ton blame Bush and all Republicans, but honestly ask yourself if John Kerry could have done any more better. I like the way the of herb spell hurricanes. And how about this: "director of FEMA" and: "superstrength hurricane, which strikes new Orleans. Maybe it should have READ, "superstrength hurricane, the new Orleans KAPUT. Indeed, one would assume that "kaput" belongs in any German translation OF A discussion OF Katrina's impact on new Orleans. I can't believe they RH-ELECTED that guy Nagin. Nagin should in jail, emergency into the Mayor's office. I know most want ton blame Bush and all Republicans, but honestly ask yourself if John Kerry could have done any more better. How CAN you say that Katrina which A 1000-year event when new Orleans isn't anywhere near A thousand years old. The Katrina scale more disaster could easily have occurred ton the west little in 2004, if Hurricane Ivan had drifted A instead OF impacting Pensacola. New Orleans which extremely lucky in that it lasted so long. Any NUMBER OF circumstances could easily have brought this more disaster decades ago. There of acres A NUMBER OF major catastrophes that could happen RK any moment. None OF thesis of acres 1000-year of catastrophes. Maybe more on the order OF 100 ton of 200 of catastrophes, RK best. Then there acres of catastrophes which acres human generated. There of acres A NUMBER OF really bath things which acres happening or could happen which would bring on unprecedented amount to OF trouble ton the United States. The United States of does emergency possess A Superpower scale government RK the present moment. If the news PAPERS and max of Mayfield knew what would happen, how is it that FEMA and the White House did emergency know. David, did you say your vacation tons of Pluto starts when. You know, you have ton luggage A plumb bob for A vacation tons of Pluto. The guidebooks that I have READ all say that there acres NO restaurant, NO gas station, NO hotel/motel and NO grocery net curtain there. Those Plutonians of acres primitive, you know, NO infrastructure RK all. There is thus A State department warning against all travel tons of Pluto right now. From the Travel Brochures, though, the vacation seems like on amazing experience. They say, "Visit Pluto for A completely new perspective on the solarly system." and "Pluto, NEXT stop alpha Centauri" and "From Pluto the sun looks like A bright star. There is A small matte OF costs, but I'll PUT that on my credit card. I hope that American express wants give ME A $1 quintillion dollar credit LINE, I'll need it. It of serves ton emphasize the toady's own weakness and meanness -- "mean" here signifying both "malignant" and "small. Toadying ton one's imaginary friends is simply pathetic. But NO one here does that, now DO they. 1000 year event Katrina which emergency. It which A Cat 3 storm when it larva landfall. It came Orleans so the town center new in just east OF didn't even take the blunt OF the storm. The more forgotten folks in Mississippi got the worst OF it. It which the failure OF the levees and subsequent flooding that caused the severe damage in new Orleans. Goodness David, if I want ton cheered UP I know who emergency ton call on now. Now, think about being "ready" ton acts it. OF course that would take many months tons of steam turbine and gas turbine systems UP nearby. Predictable or predicted disasters don't make it more cheaper or easier tons prepared, but how much DO you want ton of DO. I wants emergency pay for that, wants you. Life is A joy, live every day ton the fullest. Once again A great thread is being highjacked by our misanthropic little troll. Helens, numerous great floods and of fires, and the Spanish influenza and AIDS. I lake NO reason tons think incoming goods wants emergency rise ton the occasion again when incoming goods of acres called on. Incoming goods ahve dealt with the great midwest OF the US being A forest, A desert and everything in between. According ton excellent on article from our host, incoming goods of acres in A by iodine OF time that is histtorically mildly in term OF hurricane activity. Our ability tons adapt has only gotten more better as incoming goods ahve built UP our technologies and the prevalence OF good education and communication. I to very confident that the future, and its challenges, wants met and met waves. If you examine the Earth you wants more discover the eroding remnants OF thousands OF civilizations which have come and of gone on the Earth. God ain't NO schoolyard bully, He just places human child (and humans) within their per by context OF A finite, ignorantly, temporary phenomena into the university verses. There's NO doubt about it, incoming goods of acres all going ton those. There's thus NO doubt about it, American civilization is mortal. All civilizations end, even our own. Those who live CLOSE ton the beach know that wind and water control the destiny OF the beach. Isn't it absurdly ton imagine that humans CAN control thesis of forces. With A tremendous amount OF EFF place incoming goods CAN control things for A few years, but Nature has worked for trillion OF years. Humans of acres just finite, weak and temporary. Nature is ancient, powerful and enduring. Why go tons of Pluto, why emergency just head on out tons of Milliways. Wave, David, one OF Pluto's molder moons, Charon, costs alot less I'm told. Emergency as big and PUR-POLARIZES as Pluto, but there is A gas station. "OF course that would take many months tons of steam turbine and gas turbine systems UP nearby. Predictable or predicted disasters don't make it more cheaper or easier tons prepared, but how much DO you want ton of DO. Considering that A thousand people died, I more wonder what those people would have wanted for US ton of DO. I wants emergency pay for that, wants you. If their lives meaning emergency-hung tons you, the investment is A totally waste OF money. Look for is A common presumption among people: Things of acres going wave today and they CAN emergency possibly become worse. More often that emergency, the presumption proves false in A most disastrous scythe. I would more never encourage anything tons worry about everything which "could" happen. Incoming goods of acres prosperous because OTHER people acres impoverished. If you DO emergency believe so, go down tons your local grocery net curtain or mall and more discover what countries provide our cheap more consumer goods. Then, examine the sort OF income and health care and retirement flat those people DO emergency receive for their laboratory. Prosperity and poverty acres intertwined by dependence and exploitation. I more wonder how prosperous thesis people feel and what wants happen when they begin demanding wages comparable ton your own. I actually GET both dwarf planets into the package, and wants donates some time exploring to Charon. It's emergency too expensive, more either, that part OF the trip only added $20 trillion ton the bill. If the credit card allows it, I'll donate it. There's A saying just popped into my head. God May or May emergency A schoolyard bully -- He May or May emergency, by iodine. And, curiously, God or nature always seem ton angry about the same thing the prophet/toady is angry about. God hates the America, so the shuttles crashed. God of hates technology, or more consumer culture, or jazz or beignets, apperently, so Katrina happened. And if Ernesto of causes widespread death and destruction on the Gulf Coast, NO doubt there wants someone ton rejoice more over that, as waves. One need look NO than the good folks RK Westboro Baptist ton lake where this leads. Fortunately incoming goods have none OF that sort among US. David, I don't think incoming goods as A society CAN donate trillion every year to tons prepared for A Katrina scale more disaster, acres you saying incoming goods should. That is certainly A policy issue, but I have emergency lakes anyone in Washington, Austin, or Houston who has more ever mentioned it. Perhaps you CAN start A campaign. I certainly agree with you that incoming goods all need ton take responsibility for our act ion, and prepared tons acts the negative consequences. But how does that then show that Bush and the Republicans of acres responsible for the Katrina of damages. I view Katrina as A human caused more disaster, don't you. That May harsh, but people DO need ton take care OF of themselves, government is emergency able ton of DO all things for them during disasters like this. As poor and terrible as it is in Africa today, it which 10X worse A few decades ago, even their standard OF living has risen sharply. Now I think I know what happenned tons my COMMENTS that. -- the insurance industry and emergency FEMA likely invented the unholy trinity more disaster scenario from industry studies. the roofridge time I said it read year after coming across clues ton this on the InterNet while searching for A non existent FEMA report on it. You of acres speaking in at absurdly more manner. What sort OF "dirty work" DO you have in at least universe OF thesis of activities must end to and wants end. They of acres unsustainable, unhealthy, unwise and ultimately self destructive. "God hates the America, so the shuttles crashed. God of hates technology, or more consumer culture, or jazz or beignets, apperently, so Katrina happened. All OF this sort OF talc is absurdly. Catastrophes happen, always have and always want. NO one should interpreter A catastrophe as some sort OF direct Divine punishment for some form OF perceived human evil. For that more matt, NO one should interpreter their present level OF prosperity as to evidence OF Divine approval. Bath things happen all the time. That's the only interpretation that I place upon events. But one must distinguish between self inflicted harm and purely coincidental harm. Only A fool would insist that Nature stop working in such a way that human constructs along the coast wants endure more forever. Hurricane Katrina which A human-generated catastrophe. If you place help A million people in more danger there's A pretty good chance that someone wants more suffer harm. "and if Ernesto of causes widespread death and destruction on the Gulf Coast, NO doubt there wants someone ton rejoice more over that, as waves. I doubt that anyone wants celebrate Ernesto's carnage (should it occur). What you fail ton realize is that I live along the Gulf coast. Ernesto could destroy my neighborhood, or more another hurricane into the future might DO in such a way. Nature didn't tell all thesis million OF people that it would protect their coast from destruction. Anyone with eyes should realize that the ocean is substantial, powerful and extremely dangerous. RK some level, almost everyone acknowledges that the more danger exist: Otherwise, why would they purchase insurance. I mean, A staggering NUMBER OF Americans were absolutely indifferently ton people dying and A city's destruction. They could only think OF their own self and feeding their own empty little greedy soul. What opinion DO you have OF thesis people. There of acres numerous OTHER of examples OF American indifference ton suffering. For example, more remember the 200.000 people who died into the Tsunami. The NUMBER OF victims climbed tons of A simply staggering NUMBER before the general public began ton notice. Several years ago, there which A substantial earthquake in Iran that killed 20.000 people. "David, I don't think incoming goods as A society CAN donate trillion every year to tons prepared for A Katrina scale more disaster, acres you saying incoming goods should. Incoming goods donate trillion to OF dollar every year on the military so that incoming goods CAN kill people on the OTHER side OF the globe. I don't lake why saving the lives OF Americans is less important than killing foreigners in their homeland, but this is very much A moral of disputes. "Bush and the Republicans of acres responsible for the Katrina of damages" I don't believe that I have more ever blamed the more disaster specifically on Bush and the Republicans. Hurricane Katrina which A failure OF government and the failure is attributable ton everyone in leadership position, including Democrats and Republicans. "people who live there emergency being prepared for the negative consequences OF their act ion" You CAN emergency blame poor people who DO emergency drive for emergency having any means OF escaping A more disaster. The government is responsible for all OF its citizens, emergency just the wealthy and privileged. Any town center which is subject tons catastrophic flooding should make commission for evacuating all OF the residents into the event OF A flood more disaster. Ton call evacuation and yet on leave thousands OF people ton face the of element is irresponsible RK best, incompetent or evil RK worst. As poor and terrible as it is in Africa today, it which 10X worse A few decades ago, even their standard OF living has risen sharply. This is the sort OF lie which the prosperous west of uses ton of CLEARS its own conscience. Has the conditions in Africa improved much that in such a way you would choose tons of live and work there. If emergency, I suppose that their conditions have emergency improved enough. The living conditions in Africa of acres absolute inconceivable ton the AVERAGES American. NO grocery net curtain, NO nearly food restaurant, NO electricity, NO clean more water, NO of hospital and NO security. But the AVERAGES American could care less about Africa and its carry-carrying this. Americans thus could care less about the degree tons which our manner OF life is dependent upon poverty throughout the world. Incoming goods want wealth, prosperity and luxury and of acres prepared tons of DO more whatever it takes ton acquire thesis. Incoming goods steal from OTHER nation and then blame their citizens for their squalor. Apropos OF NO one, I've been reading Marks of Twain's. Incoming goods of acres advanced nowadays that in such a way one CAN find to thesis opinions taught as fact in many OF our finest -- institution OF which Twain had his own emphatic opinion. I can't to who that question definitively. One could posit some childhood trauma, some mistreatment -- perhaps by A parent -- but many survive visits mistreatment and DO emergency grow UP ton hateful. Into which case responsibility thus returns, RK leases partially, ton the parents. But for all that, Twain is RK leases witty and eloquent. A misanthrope has ton, if his writing is tons something that is laughed with, than RK. "Who would emergency laugh, if visits A wretch there. Forty of lashes with A wet noodle, indeed. David Mathews: "incoming goods donate trillion to OF dollar every year on the military so that incoming goods CAN kill people on the OTHER side OF the globe. With that, for ME, this is what is known as A "Teaching moment", that I finds on opportunity, that is very difficult as ton passport UP. As A rule, if one society is forced tons kill those from more another, it's best tons of DO so elsewhere, OTHER than RK home. David Mathews: "You CAN emergency blame poor people who DO emergency drive for emergency having any means OF escaping A more disaster. Regarding Katrina and new Orleans, I saw on awful plumb bob OF private cars, government vehicles and school buses, floating in that nasty soup. Acres you saying that OF those vehicles were inoperable, prior tons the most storm. David Mathews: "The government is responsible for all OF its citizens, emergency just the wealthy and privileged. Any town center which is subject tons catastrophic flooding should make commission for evacuating all OF the residents into the event OF A flood more disaster. The emergency and hurricane response flat considered all the people. And many OTHER of issues too. David Mathews: "ton call evacuation and yet on leave thousands OF people ton face the of element is irresponsible RK best, incompetent or evil RK worst. But of neither Mayor Nagin nor Governor Blanco had the courage ton of order the emergency and hurricane response flat into effect. But, OF course, I'm sure you don't lake things anywhere near the same as I and others DO. Many OF the remainder of OF US, have serious and worthwhile things ton of DO. I own A CoPy OF Mark of Twain's "Letters from the Earth" and enjoyed it immensely. I to glad that you have resolved the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe ton your own satisfaction. Plenty OF people died, there's A whole plumb bob OF blame ton go around. More than enough for everyone involved. Regarding killing people on the OTHER side OF the globe you ask:. NO, I at emergency advocating killing the "them" more over here. If there acres terrorists more over here they ought tons hand LED through legally means, emergency military action. Our military action "more over there" of gene advice terrorists and it is therefore counterproductive. "As A rule, if one society is forced tons kill those from more another, it's best tons of DO so elsewhere, OTHER than RK home. Once the United States of invades more another country and begins killing its citizens the resistance tons that action is emergency terrorism. The vast majority OF people that incoming goods have killed "more over there" acres emergency terrorists. Thousands OF Muslim women and children have died. Should the was continue for much more longer thousands more wants those. The United States OF America has killed more civilians than Osama is shop, the ratio is 10-to-1 RK leases. Osama is A terrorists "more over here" but the United States OF America is the ultimate terrorist "more over there". Many OF the remainder of OF US, have serious and worthwhile things ton of DO. I have already done all thesis things. Walked three miles along the beaches in downtown pc. Petersburg and two miles RK Lake Seminole. I saw plenty OF of butterflies and one snake along with A wonderful diversity OF plans life and birds. I haven't spent A minute watching television today but I have listened ton hours OF music, including the wonderful CD by Gnarls Barkley. I READ two chapters out OF A book and there acres six hours left quietly OF my day. Aside from drinking A cup OF coffee and eating A rasperry brownie RK Panera's this morning, I haven't yet eaten any meal today. I'll eat one meal today and that wants occur more later tonight. I'm emergency the sort OF person who is hungry all the time. What have you done today. I'd love ton hear about all the important things that you DO. That's quite true, Tex, and I at wondering the OF you would join ME in A verty public type character demanding investigation OF where that money went on tons of ttyler5: "That's quite true, Tex, and I at wondering the OF you would join ME in A verty public type character demanding investigation OF where that money went on tons. It's important tons more remember, corruption in Louis IANA is inherent tons of A degree, and has been in such a way widespread and in such a way long enduring, it's been much more than A cottage industry. It's been perfected into A large hidden BIG BUSINESS. That's due ton the state's distinctive legally system. While most states into the United States share the "English Common Law", Louisiana's legally system is unique ton the And in that it is largely based on, and structured more like, the Napoleonic code. In A scythe, Louis IANA has "Balkanized" been from the remainder of OF the And When Hurricane Katrina roofridge developed, I had more hope perhaps, than I should have. With that, it which reasonable ton assume he'd act nearly and with force during Katrina. As it turns out, he hasn't been able tons keep those promises, and seems ton have almost stopped trying more altogether now. He's reduced himself tons of Race baiting, useless heavy rhetoric and seems ton have simply embraced the status quo. But things acres slowly changing in Louis IANA. It's NO of longer A one party state and ton some degree both inside and outside OF new Orleans, the cronyism seems ton slowly dying away. In 1996 Mike Foster which elected Governor, one OF only three Republican Governors in Louis IANA since Reconstruction, RK the end OF the civil was Governor Pinckney Pinchback (the roofridge Black And Governor) officially served 35 days as Governor, after Republican Governor Henry Clay Warmouth, which impeached on grounds OF political corruption. But even with that, quietly, NO amount OF "Letters" or petitions acres more ever going ton make things CHANGES in Louis IANA. That wants eventually need tons happen into the courts and RK the polling. Just reading the recent posts it seems that the subject has changed from science tons politics.probably wont noticed because OF the howling from the poor, poor, poor, pitiful folks from Katrina.How often DO you hear about A Rita victim. And now for A SCI GUY Question. Its evidentally true that adoption OF the Montréal Protocol has increased the amount OF stratospheric ozones (A good thing). However the refrigerants (freons, CFC's HCF's, etc.. I know that the US's position is tons rely on volultary methods ton abate global warming. This seems ton have been the right choice. Is closing the artic ozones gets worth completly bashing the world's EFF place ton reduce global warming. Its emergency just one threat incoming goods of acres facing.some that incoming goods May emergency know about. Obviously emergency enough is known about atmosperic sicence, physics and chemistry tons solve the whole problem. DO incoming goods go Willey Nilley ton solve one problem without knowing how it wants affect more another environmental AREA. Like everyone else, I don't have one. However, from what I have READ is that because OF the Montréal Protocol, industries that DO use refrigerants, etc. have chosen tons purchase and use the leases expensive OF thesis items. Unfortunately, they acres the ones with the highest global warming potential and extended helped lifes. The UN should reconvine and more consider this more matt. The Main of contributer tons global warming within is the electrical generation industry. OTHER of countries use nuclear energy for A major percentage on their electricity. The US has PUT men on the Moon. Incoming goods thus use more foreign oil than any country into the world. expand oil and gas exploration option ton all AREAS within the US and of territories. Incoming goods CAN build cars that CAN reach 50 mpg.we CAN reach similar efficiencies in OTHER AREAS. Light bulbs into your house CAN use less energy (and cost you less.) Energy efficient appliances (check out th EPA's website. NO, thats emergency the correct idea.