02 Sep 05 A Rethink Needed?

It doesn’t seem wise to be disbanding Federal Emergency Management Agency, and certainly not after the devastation of Katrina. FEMA really came into it’s own after Hurricane Andrew made such a mess in South Florida in 1992. Until now, Andrew had been the costliest natural disaster to hit the United States. It looks like Katrina could surpass that, not only in terms of the financial cost, but the cost in human lives, livelihoods, and suffering.

The writing has been on the wall for FEMA ever since the first GW Bush administration came into office in 2001. Since 9/11 the accent has been very much focused on the prevention of terrorism, and plans to deal with the aftermath of any such activity should it occur.

Whilst this is surely important, one thing is for sure – there will be more hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other major natural catastrophes, which are certain to happen again, sooner or later.

02 Sep 05 Gas Prices after Katrina

When we wake up this morning and start the commute to work many of us are angry that gas prices are climbing thru the roof right now, when we stop to gas up our vehicles. Those gas stations that are taking advantage of the situation, and blantantly price gouging deserve to be boycotted until they go out of business. There is no excuse to make a quick buck out of such a tragedy, period.

However, let’s put this into perspective.

• Some people are waking up in the Deep South this morning with no vehicle to gas up.
• Some people are waking up this morning with no job to go to.
• Some people are waking up this morning with no home.
• Some people aren’t going to be waking up any more.

So although you might have to bear some pain in the pocket right now when you gas up, just thank God that you’re still here, that you still have your vehicle, your home, your job, your loved ones. Just thank God it wasn’t you, or the folks you hold so dearly, and pray to God that those that survived the hurricane get out of the aftermath unscathed, and go on to rebuild their shattered lives as quickly as possible.