I'm sorry about all the misery of those along the Gulf Coast and I pray for them but let's face it, for years New Orleans has been a disaster waiting to happen. Everybody knew that the first hurricane that scored a direct hit was going to flood the place. Heck, it's below sea level, with old pumps and the levees were only designed for a category 3 hurricane and surge. It was just a matter of time.
As far as rebuilding is concerned, it seems stupid to do it in the exact same spot. All right, rebuild the French Quarter and protect it with levees but the rest of the city should be moved to higher ground, at least above sea level. There's no sense in making the same mistake twice.
Looters .... I don't know. With no power, all the food in the stores is going to spoil anyway. It's all a write off so why not let people have it. I know that if I was there and my family needed food or water, I'd be kicking in store windows too. Now, those looting private homes or stealing electronic goods, guns, etc., they should be fair game. As one cop said, "Shoot 'em, pin a "Looter" sign on 'em, and leave 'em there as an example". If it came to protecting my home and family, I know that's what I would do except I'd probably dispense with the sign.
What I did find surprising however, is the large number of people who took absolutely no precautions what-so-ever. They didn't fill a pot or a pan with water, didn't fill a sink or a bath tub, didn't do anything except sit and wait for it to pass. I know that in many cases it wouldn't have made any difference with their whole house under water but I would have thought that, knowing something BAD was coming, they would have at least made some rudimentary preparations and plans. Also, the authorities should have been giving out information BEFORE the hurricane hit. Information on mustering points, how to handle and treat water for drinking, using the water in water heaters, etc., so there wasn't the void that exists there at present. Telling people just to "Get out", doesn't seem like much of a contingency plan.
It may be that living in the country where services are occasionally disrupted makes you think about these things more so that you are better prepared to deal with them. It may also be that country living just makes you a little more self sufficient. Hank Jr. may have got it right, "Country boys can survive".
Our thoughts and prayers should be with those suffering on the Gulf Coast.
