generalspeaking

Natural Disaster Fall-out

Something seems out of whack in this scene.  New York, the metropolis of the greatest city of the most powerful, wealthiest and influential country on the planet is incapable of functioning normally in the wake of a monster storm.  The nation that invented motor vehicles and our dependence upon them to entirely restructure the manner in which nations flourish is unable to supply enough gas to its residents to enable them to go about their business.

The public transit systems are not yet fully in order, ferrying people to their multitudinous jobs.  Thousands on thousands of residents of the city still have no energy.  There are tall apartment buildings with no elevator service, no lights, no power for the appliances, no heat - and people are living lives of absolute misery.  How do elderly people navigate their way down 20 flights to buy food?

Those who are poor and those who have been displaced are dependent on the charity of those providing food at hastily set-up food banks and kitchens, and warm clothing is being distributed through goods donated for the needy.  And a good many people have become exceedingly needy, even more so than before the storm.

Gas rationing was implemented almost two weeks after the hit of the deadly superstorm that impacted the city's infrastructure.   That dreadful damage was done is understandable and was foreseeable, but that preparations were not underway to cope with shortages and needs beforehand by FEMA and by state and municipal authorities is a little more difficult to understand.

The same kind of fundamental problem that afflicts third-world danger zones in conflict areas; inability to transport and distribute basic necessities of life are now impacting one of the most populous, most modern cities of the world.  Many of the terminals used to transfer fuel from tankers at sea to trucks had sustained damage from the surge of sea water and low-lying areas being flooded.

This storm, Sandy, has become the second-most expensive storm in U.S. history.  Roughly 434,000 homes and businesses in the Northeast of the country lacked power.  Thousands were forced to abandon their storm damaged homes.  Many more have been attempting to cope in the dark, in freezing temperatures, with all the complications those situations bring.

Modern societies function well when things go according to normal expectations.  When a catastrophe like a natural climatic event of huge proportions occurs the result is chaos and action gridlock, a population vulnerable and in need, waiting for government to aid, and learning that they must help themselves, first.

This was a notable storm in terms of ferocity and damage; over 8.5 million homes and businesses lost power across 21 states.  The Red Cross is still raising money to aid and succour the victims of the disaster.  And the harrowing message is this can happen anywhere at any time.  And we are woefully unprepared.

Labels: Natural Disasters, Security, Traditions, United States

posted by Pieface @ Sunday, November 11, 2012