NEW ORLEANS VERSUS SAN DIEGO -
FROM EXPERIENCE, THEN AND NOW!
It’s a good thing Ray Nagin is not in California.
This is the AP:
“Civility Reigns at San Diego Stadium — Like Hurricane Katrina evacuees two years ago in New Orleans, thousands of people rousted by natural disaster fled to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, waiting out the calamity, worrying about their homes. The similarities ended there as an almost festive atmosphere reigned at Qualcomm Stadium.”
They have bands here! “Bands were belting out rock ‘n’ roll. There were lavish buffets serving gourmet entrées. There were massage therapists to help relieve…” I kid you not, “massage therapists to reveal the stress of those forced to flee their homes because of wildfires.
‘The people are happy. They have everything here,’ Governor Schwarzenegger declared Monday night after his second Qualcomm tour.” Now, “Although anxieties ran high the misery index seemed low. As the governor waded through the mob, scarcely a complaint was registered with him.” Everybody was asking for pictures with Arnold.
Now, in fairness, we have to mention that Qualcomm is not threatened by fire at the moment. The Superdome was right in the middle of Hurricane Katrina and the roof blew open.
So it’s not quite a perfect comparison, but it still is juicy.
It is an interesting contrast nevertheless.
San Diego is, in large part, conservative community-oriented. Louisiana is not.
Here in SD, people are pitching in and so forth. It’s just a fascinating contrast.
Qualcomm Stadium didn’t spring a leak that the Superdome did. I think the comparison that you’re hearing people make all day is not between the two structures and the circumstances, but rather the attitudes of people.
The big difference in the two is that the local officials in New Orleans were derelict in getting the need out there, and saying that what Qualcomm Stadium represents is an evacuation of the danger area. In New Orleans, people were evacuated within the target area, with the hopes that the structure would hold.
We had all those school buses to get people out, and they didn’t. That’s the real difference. Whether people wanted to leave or not, we know, the evacuation plan was not put into place. There were way too many people still left in because once the storm hit, the 12 feet of water and the floods and the levees and so forth, there was no way out anyway even if you did have vehicles.
It was up to the National Guard and their helicopters and boats — and, by the way, they did more rescues in Hurricane Katrina than in any other disaster. It was a great performance by the Coast Guard. It’s been overshadowed and ignored by a lot of people.
FOR REASONS OF FULL DISCLOSURE:
I GREW UP IN NEW ORLEANS - ATTENDED UNO- , NOW I LIVE IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY…
SO DISASTERS, I KNOW. BEEN THRU BOTH AND EVEN ONES THAT DIDN’T MAKE WORLDWIDE COVERAGE.
LIVING THE CURRENT FIRE STORM HERE. WILL TRY TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE REAL EVENTS GOING ON… NOT THE HYPE.
HERE IN SAN DIEGO, WE ARE SURVIVORS… NOT VICTIMS.
Side note: to all the dedicated firefighters, police, my friends, neighbors and others, here in SD; thanks for all the help and kindness shown to all those in need!
God Bless You All!
This is a sad comment on the type of person you are. Does this make you feel like a bigger person? Did you watch Katrina on TV? I lived Katrina and I tell you it has changed my life. I have seen sufering and heroism I will never forget. I am glad the people of San Diego got food and water and caring they needed in terrible times. I am glad they were not abandoned by government the way the people of the city and the Gulf Coast were. I too am a New Orleanian and I am ashamed for you.
The big difference in the two is that the local officials in New Orleans were derelict … that would be local government; Mayor and Governor.
In New Orleans, people were evacuated within the target area, with the hopes that the structure would hold.
They had all those school buses to get people out, and they didn’t. That’s the real difference. In NO, we know way before a hurricane is going to hit. Hell, as a kid we tracked them, daily.
As a New Orleanian, I know as you should know … politics have always been an embarrassment since before Huey P.
Corruption and cronyism is a staple of the state and the parish.
The Federal Government was never intended to be first responders… that is the responsibility of the city and state. They failed miserably in New Orleans and in the State Capital.
That is a FACT.
I DID SAY:
“There were way too many people still left in because once the storm hit and you talk about that 12 feet of water and the floods and the levees and so forth, there was no way out anyway even if you did have vehicles.
Now, in fairness, we have to mention that Qualcomm is not threatened by fire at the moment. The Superdome was right in the middle of Hurricane Katrina and the roof blew open.
So it’s not quite a PERFECT comparison.”
And as far as the type of person I am; I am one that does not rely on the Government for my survival. When I lived in New Orleans and a Hurricane was coming… our family made the choice to stay or headed North or West or where ever to be safe.
Side note here: We were poor … so I don’t see that as an excuse.
I was brought up to respect personal responsibility.
To rely on government, that is paralyzed by bureaucracy, is a futile.
You were not abandoned by government, your Mayor and Governor where derelict in their duties… You were unprepared because of the Local government ineptitude.
We are not abandoned by the SD government, we have fires here all the time… just like NO has hurricanes.
Local and State officials implemented emergency plans, to alert citizens, police and fire drove down neighborhood streets with bull horns. You have to realize, this started at 3AM, while most were sleeping. Many escaped homes with nothing but the cloths on their backs and their children. Neighbors helped out neighbors, the community continues to come together to help each other. I am proud of the response and the continuing battle to contain these raging fires, and I know, just like the fire in 2003, we will rebuild and be stronger.
I am ashamed by the lack of progress to rebuild my home city. The city, I LOVE.
But, as long as the people of NO rely on the Government to do so, it will take forever.
You are completely ignorant of the facts. After 2 years of dealing with close minded people like you I know that discussion is useless. Do yourself a favor and go to NOLA or the MS Gulf Coast and SEE the reality. Talk to the people. Ask them about FEMA, Ask them about the Corps of Engineers. Believe your own eyes and ears because you certainly aren’t listening to a Republican eye witness that LIVED it. There is plenty of blame to go around, including state and local government, but don’t give the federal government a pass. It is as incompetent as it comes, has lied time after time to the people of the Gulf Coast, and has generally added to the suffering of the area.
First of all, I am not ignorant of the facts.
I do listen to a Rep. that lived it, and go figure… my Dad who still has a home down there, is quite vocal on the subject, he’s does claim to be a Rep., as I do not. We consider ourselves Conservative. And, he is the one that taught me PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. I visit my Dad twice a year… He was down there, 3 weeks after the event… and saw the aftermath. I also have seen the city since. So, thank you for the invitation, but it is unnecessary.
“There is plenty of blame to go around…”
Yes, I agree…
But as I stated before, “The Federal Government was never intended to be first responders… that is the responsibility of the city, parish and state. They failed miserably in New Orleans.” Yes FEMA failed, what do you expect from an even larger bureaucracy, paralyzed by red tape and the same ineptitude?
I repeat: “To rely on government, that is paralyzed by bureaucracy, is futile.”
I don’t give the federal government a pass. Actually I give all government bureaucracy a failing grade. Katrina was a millennium event, largest national disaster in our history. I know that, and understand it. But, from a government that can’t keep the roads, bridges, levees etc. in decent shape, can’t issue a drivers license without having to wait in line for five hours… bla bla bla, anyone expecting to be saved by the government is a VICTIM.
We will rebuild, in NO, and in SD. Because we are SURVIVERS, and we love where we live, RISK AND ALL. We know the risk, we also understand the catastrophic possibilities attached to those risk.
My Grandfather is planning on rebuilding, and my family will be down there next summer to help, along with as many friends as we can find to pitch in.
I have not written off NO, I just believe the comeback will only happen, if initiated by individuals, not government bureaucracies.
You give little credit to the “people of the Gulf Coast”. Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, and little recognition of the progress they have made. I do not.
Okay, you all have to understand that these two natural disasters are incomparable! All around the world we have fire stations to fight fires, correct? There is no such thing as a hurricane department! Because you cant’t contain a damn hurricane, you let it pass. So it’s not about race(Dems vs. Reb) Its about class and privilege. Think about it. So don’t mix the apple with the oranges please
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for contributing to the blog.
… lets talk apples and oranges… because, both are fruit. They do have many commonalities.
Hurricanes as fires, are an act of nature (ie. lightning / not arson), and at least with a hurricane, you are able to track its progress and determine an estimate to as to its time of arrival. With a fire, as I have learned, living in San Diego for the last 7 yrs, when the Santa Ana winds kick up, there are a few things that are certain.
Weather is the primary force that drives or contains wildfires. But once they start burning,
they create their own weather.
1) Smoke and heat from fires can rise thousands of feet in the air –Column of rising hot air creates a void below
2) Then cooler air rushes in to fill the void –Fresh air rushes in, bringing more oxygen to fuel the flames
3) This convection system creates gale-force hot winds (wind speeds that can match those of hurricanes, over 70 mph) that dry out and preheat fuel ahead of the fire and can propel burning embers as much as half a mile (0.8 km) –Blowing embers allow the fire to jump natural barriers such as rivers and valleys
TORNADO WINDS In rare cases, erratic winds within a wildfire create powerful minitornadoes that can shoot spirals of flame into the air and twist trees apart at their trunks
UPHILL BATTLE Wildfires charge rapidly up mountainsides because the heat from the fire rises and is directed at the fuel uphill, drying it out before the flames arrive
People here in San Diego where awoken at 3 am. and told to flee their homes.
Some did not. Some died. Firefighters died, trying to contain these - out of control “hurricanes of fire”, and warning homeowners of the danger. These fires grew from 100 acres to 200,000 acres in less than a day. I assure you the firefighters can’t fight that, and they didn’t. Exactly … I repeat exactly what you do to escape a hurricane, is the same as you do to survive a wildfire. You evacuate. You get out of the way… as you said “you let it pass“.
2000 buses sitting in flood waters is a big difference when compared to the evacuation that took place in San Diego. Mandatory evacuation, is what it took to save the hundreds of thousands of people.
I agree it is not about race.
It is also not about class and privilege.
It is about dealing with a natural disaster in a planned and responsible manner.