For those too lazy to use the Google search engine on this blog, that awful measure is to herd all concerned Washington players into one place, not allow them out until they have screwed their heads back on straight, and commandeer Taco Bell to deliver breakfast, lunch and dinner for however long it takes.
But not being a mean person by nature, and in light of the scope of the tragedy, I've downgraded to calling for a national day of thinking.
Just a few months ago, ahead of the G8 meeting in Gleneagles, contingents of columnists worked themselves into fits about corruption in African governments.
So we really need to stop and think, in a very graphic detailed way, about what the state and local governments of Louisiana and Mississippi can do with a huge windfall coming their way. Government in those US states have much in common with many governments in perpetually poor countries.
Corruption is just one factor to consider when spreading around hundreds of billions without draconian oversight. We just got through a transportation bill that was laden with so much pork it oinked. The question is how much pork would attach to a $200 billion spending spree.
I think Congress needs to realize that they could double or treble the spending and this would not stop questions about how a major American city got into the position it did. No amount of guilt money will halt the questions.
We also need to think about something called the future. Yesterday Scott McClellan passed along the White House argument that the yearly bill for Medicare is much larger than a "one time" payment for Katrina. The logic is that no matter what the bill the United States economy can absorb a once-in-a-lifetime whopping payment rather easily.
The logic assumes the rest of this hurricane season, flu season, next hurricane season, weather patterns signaling drought, tinder dry forests, faults in the earth, a major infrastructure system and America's enemies won't spring a surprise.
In short, there is nothing but hope backing the assumption that lightning won't strike twice. Perhaps that is why President Bush called for a national day of prayer: he saw the estimates of the one time bill for reconstruction and relief, and hopes there won't be a second time bill anytime soon.
But I think the most important thinking on a day reserved for thought should be in the area of community preparedness. Doug Duncan went a little over the top, but I don't think he was trying to score political points when he called for a review of Greater Washington DC's disaster planning in the wake of Katrina.
Two reminders from Katrina: hurricanes can zig on a dime and hit regions that never before experienced catastrophic flooding, and at virtually the same time devastate a large region. So even with the best federal assistance program, regions anywhere near a coastline should be prepared to fend for themselves for at least 72 hours without outside help.
Top Washington area elected officials conferred [September 8] by conference call, at the request of Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, to begin re-evaluating and strengthening emergency plans in light of concerns about the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf region. The conference call was organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).Here I must interrupt. Pundita went through Hurricane Isabel in this region. My memory is that there was much to be desired about emergency response and preparation.
Duncan and the other area officials agreed to ask COG to help the region’s local governments, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia and key federal agencies re-evaluate the emergency coordination plans adopted since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
COG led its member governments in creating the Regional Emergency Coordination Plan (RECP) after the terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon. The plan fostered improved regional coordination during Hurricane Isabel and a major snowstorm in 2003, as well as during events like the president’s inauguration.
“Frankly, I was disappointed and concerned about the federal response to Hurricane Katrina,” Duncan said. “Federal law enforcement agencies were there for Montgomery County when we were dealing with the sniper incident and because we all worked together, we apprehended the two men responsible for those murders.
But if we can no longer count on quick assistance from FEMA and other agencies, we need to re-evaluate our plans,” Duncan said.
There was more than a bit of chaos in this region in Isabel's wake because electrical failures knocked out some water pumping/treatment stations and certain areas were without electricity for several days. There was delay about getting bottled water distributed to people in need.
Also, there was unexpectedly heavy flooding in Alexandria and low lying regions of the District of Columbia -- nothing life threatening, but destructive to property in residential/storefront areas.
With regard to the serial snipers my memory is that it took a few days before what I recall was the FBI setting up phone tip lines. Even with that, the Feds and the local police missed crucial tips, which focused the search on a red herring trail: everyone was looking for a white van, which allowed the snipers to keep getting away despite their rather distinctive vehicle. To continue with The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments press release:
The officials voiced concerns about the speed and comprehensiveness of the federal response to the hurricane and stressed that while first response to emergencies is a top local priority, state and federal agencies must remain ready to aid local responders, especially when the local response is overwhelmed as it was in New Orleans.I think that's all very good advice. In particular, neighbors should talk with neighbors about how they would go about banding together and pooling resources if the cavalry didn't arrive within a few hours after a disaster struck.
“The National Capital Region has made great strides on emergency planning,” said Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board Chair, who also serves as vice-chair of the COG Board.
“We’ve addressed health, communication and transportation issues. We are as prepared for and capable of handling an emergency as any region in the country,” he added.
Duncan highlighted the outcomes of the conference call earlier today as he and other regional officials participated in the launch of the Washington area’s “Be Ready, Make a Plan” public readiness campaign. The campaign will include advertising and community events during September, National Preparedness Month, designed to encourage area citizens to make emergency plans with their families and in schools and workplaces. The campaign will target residents, community groups and businesses.*
What I remember most about Isabel's wake in this region are the 'odd' horror stories:
Children happily splashing in polluted floodwaters in Alexandria and a reporter yelling at the parents to get the kids out of the water; the confused look on the parents' face at first then realization dawning.
A few people getting electrocuted because they touched wet outlets without realizing the electric had been turned back on.
A few people dying of carbon monoxide poisoning because they ran a generator in a small enclosed space.
In light of the horrors visited by Katrina such incidents seem almost small in the grand scheme. But many people in this region were caught short without enough potable water and food to last them a few days and by their lack of knowledge about what to do and not do when a bad storm strikes.
It doesn't take a huge amount of money to bridge such knowledge gaps; just a lot of patience, persistence and periodic repetition.
Aside from "Help!" the words I recall hearing most from Katrina survivors after the floodwaters rose: "I didn't know."
They went through a hard way to find out.
* http://www.mwcog.org/news/
press/detail.asp?NEWS_ID=160
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