Watching Isaac

Watching Isac

This morning I listened to NPR's "All Things Considered" from 9:00 to 10:00.  I was listening for something I Did Not Hear. 

After hurricane Katrina there was a "study" (as if one was needed) to determine the Risk factors of Katrina.  In other words, who died and why.

The three factors in common to the dead they found were:  African Americans, poor people of any color, and those with disabilities.  Ann and I decided then that since we had two out of three, we were expendable to our country and should do our best to aid ourselves and neighbors like us in any disaster.  Yah, we were slow on the uptake.  Native people, homeless people, especially veterans, and poor African Americans already knew.

What do all three of these groups have in common?  They are not as likely as others to own CARS!

So this morning I was listening for the Mayor, a Governor, or a Federal official to say Something about comendering the school busses left sitting in water to drown during Katrina.  I was listening for someone to say they hhad paid Greyhound or Amtrack to evacuate those without cars.  Nope, not One Damned Word!

They talked about how slow the Coast Guard's "Urban Rescue" teams, which were in place, would be to get to people because Isac is such a slow moving storm.  They talked about tornadoes, and casinos, and the fact that people in low lying areas had been "Ordered out".  But No one said a single word about How people who didn't or couldn't drive were supposed to Get out!

I remember talking to a nurse who went to New Orleans after Katrina to help.  She said that in New Orleans at bus stops early in the morning she remembered seeing (this was Before Katrina) 20 or 30 people gathered early in the mornings.  They were maids in wealthier homes, restaurant workers, janitors, all the people who keep a city running on their backs.  So we know who was lost, along with the disabled and poor from the housing projects.

Bottom line?  We know who's expendable.  I will be watching, n o matter Who is President, to see if in this Worse economy, the same people are once again left for the "Urban Rescue" units, who will be slowed by constant rain and tidal surges.

Open your eyes, friends, and we'll see how "family values" play out in this one.

There are so many stories I could tell you about Katrina and its aftermath, but I won't, yet.  This has already become a rant.  I am angry, did ya guess?