> I've heard reports of people walking down streets shooting people just because of their race (whites shooting blacks, blacks shooting whites). I have no idea how widespread this is, but knowing that racial tensions are still quite high in many places in the south, it doesn't necessarily surprise me. However, it does sicken me to think about how many people out there who are apparently only civilized because of the threat of force. As soon as law enforcement is removed from the equation, things dengenerate into raping, pillaging, and murder. Breaking into a grocery store to feed yourself and your family because relief efforts are unacceptably slow is one thing--breaking into a jewelry store to steal some jewels is entirely another.
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> Where is FEMA in this? What happened to all that emergency planning we as a nation supposedly did after 9/11? This wasn't even an out-of-the-blue terrorist incident. This was a natural disaster we had more than a week to prepare for. And almost a week after the storm, lawlessness and chaos still reign. It's completely unacceptable.
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> -- Dave

I agree 100%. We are learning that we were not ready. It makes no difference what causes a disaster. It could be natural or terrorism. The plans should be in place to deal with anything.

Today, raging fires are out of control in New Orleans. Two so far, but more before the day is over. The downtown fire is spreading. We have equipment to put out forest fires on mountain tops, but can't fight a fire in a flooded city???
Airports have fire trucks that can drive through burning jet fuel and fight a fire. Military units have fire equipment that can be used in urban battles. We have aircraft that can drop fire retardant on hills and in canyons. Won't it work in a city?

Maybe the worst thing is the stories about policemen who are turning in their badges and refusing to "protect and to serve." If it is that bad, maybe someone needs to form a plan to make the job possible.

I 'm sure that the future holds new kinds of disaster planning. Maybe they will not limit themselves to someone's idea of a "worst case senario." Sometimes the worst thing is beyond that.
Howard