This past weekend’s visit to Wisconsin was tailed by an earnest and eerie soundtrack: everywhere we went, every TV channel we landed on were newspeople, chyrons and footage that screamed Flood! Flood! Flood! More rain coming! On Friday, Julie informed us that her grandmother was being evacuated from her southern Wisconsin home as were a number of the residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Those who lost their homes to the catastrophic draining of Lake Delton, Wisconsin are preparing to sue the town for not signing its FEMA paperwork and for allowing said residents to build their million-dollar homes on sand instead of bedrock. Gays Mills seriously considers picking up the entire town and relocating to higher ground after the second flood in less than a year. Residents reason that such a move is preferable to “the trauma of being repetitively flooded.”
Someone asked me if this reminds me of Katrina. Looking at him as if he were sprouting a third ear, I said, “Nope. This is someone else’s disaster, someone else’s pain. Also, the two floods were not made equally. The geologic, meteorological, political and sociological causes and aftermath are vastly different, not to mention that this is 2008 and that was 2005. I’ll give you one upsetting similarity, though – FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers. These two agencies simply cannot handle preparation and emergency.”
And then, I come home to this:
… the intersection of St. Charles and Louisiana avenues was pronounced impassable, even for fire trucks … New Orleans reported that Sewerage & Water Board pumps had functioned well but could only handle 1 inch of rain in the first hour and 1/2 inch every subsequent hour.
And this:
AP: NOAA: New Orleans at risk from Cat. 2 hurricane
Daily Kos: Matt McBride – Corps of Engineers protects NOLA with duct tape, rope, and rusty pipes
I’m worried, guys, I really am. My life thus far, like that of many others on this planet, cannot be described as placid or uneventful, but what the hell?* Nor will I state that nowhere is safe, but every last one of us lives at the mercy of this planet. What’s next? More importantly, are we prepared for what comes next? While those in Wisconsin currently plot their paths into this unexpected future, what do New Orleanians imagine will happen here? What are our contingency measures and how many will endure FEMA, the ACoE, insurance companies, Road Home and contractors all over again? Is America prepared for this and are we prepared for them?
We have so much to live for, so much to protect and enjoy, so much to live and learn. Times like this make me wonder how humankind made it this far. Is it because we helped one another or pure, stupid luck? Our endurance to date may be evidence that we will make it, but our increasing blunders and hubris make me wonder.
I don’t see clear answers right now, only the thin rope between here and … where?
FEMA and the A. C. o’ E. are the ones that worry me the most in all of this, too, as well as the screw job the insurance companies are gonna pull on these people.
Why in hell CAN’T we all learn without having to hurt more people?
My grandma ended up not having to evacuate – she’s fine, her house is fine. But I do need to check in at home and see if my mom and sister can actually get to their respective jobs. I have some pictures I should forward you.
We need to elevate. New Orleans can be flooded by rain or by hurricane. You know I think the 100 year level of protection is puny, and we won’t have that until 2011 or later, so what kind of game are we playing here? A dangerous game to be sure.
I share your worry, and I am at turns confident and doubtful that this will have a happy ending.
Peace,
Tim