At least some part of this planet learned what not to do in the case of a massive storm.
Within a few hours of the most powerful cyclone in decades hitting Australia’s northeastern coast Monday, state and federal governments had declared a state of emergency, prepared Black Hawk helicopters to run rescue missions and announced cash payouts for victims … Emergency relief officials said they had studied the response to Hurricane Katrina last year – and learned what not to do.
We still know how to evacuate for hurricanes better than anyone.
New Orleans undertook the largest evacuation in its history in a mostly orderly fashion … The problem for the Gulf Coast was the response did not match the unprecedented needs after flood walls and levees that defend New Orleans broke. With more than 70,000 people stranded in the city, resources were stretched to the breaking point and relief could not get in fast enough.
Category 5 Cyclone Larry hit northern Queensland with “up to $1 billion damage to homes, businesses and vital infrastructure and wiped out almost all of Australia’s banana crop … and no reported deaths or serious injuries.” Less than 24 hours later, President Bush called PM Howard with an offer of monetary help.
President Bush, who took a hammering in the United States over the slowness of his response when hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans last year, clearly wanted to get in early this time.
“You’re funny,” said Howard before he hung up on Bush and returned to his radio interview.
Six months later, the Katrina diaspora continues to reel from shock, guilt and the slow heal. As one of the 7000 rendered homeless by Cyclone Larry, can you imagine having to move from banana plantations to the desert of Western Australia or a big city? Relocating to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, or anywhere in southeastern Australia doesn’t sound like such a bad thing, though. Can I go?
Australia will take care of its own. For one, they don’t have to contend with FEMA.
Did the PM really say that? God, I’d love to have the audio of that call. Or to see the look on Bush’s face.
That’s something the PM was probably thinking and I wish he had said.
Here’s the radio show Howard was on when Bush called. They have podcasts you can sift through in your ample free time.
I really love Australia.
However.
Shouldn’t we be spending money here at home to fix what’s happened?
To quote NO Metroblogger Jack,
“They’d be better off getting themselves declared a terrorist nation, then US troops would be there in a couple of hours to ‘free them’.”
Except they’d be getting “freed” with bombs and stuff.