OT - What Really Counts -Think of Haiti - Page 10

"Tom has made huge sums of money as an excellent NFL quarterback."

He's actually a pauper compared to his wife, who makes about four times as much as the world's top model.

Reporters like Anderson Cooper of CNN, and Brian Williams of NBC and all who are with those major networks come in being sort of self-sustained. But yes, they have to find vehicles. So their security people and others who are dealing with logistics start looking for people with any kind of working vehicle and they hire that vehicle, small as it might be. Or, until they can get enough vehicles, they walk. OR they hope a ride with the only helicopter that will take them to survey the damage. Why? Because they too provide a unique perspective and more important, graphic images that tell the rest of us, in particular, the leaders of the world, the scope of the disaster.

They leave people camping and guarding their primary base with their supplies and those are intelligently placed in areas that, for the time being, appear to be secure. In their case and this instance, that was the airport.

Haven't you seen all the UN crushed vehicles? Or the others around town buried in the rubble? And what of gasoline? When it is not available, you use bikes or motorbikes or you walk. And when so many streets are completely blocked, then what? You don't go down that street unless you walk and/or send someone down to reconnoiter. 

Some help is there and very fast, the help continues to stream in. But no, in such a disaster, it is and will NEVER be enough, soon enough. There are today 14 aid stations set up and several more field hospitals. The USS Carl Vincent is there and the USS Comfort should be there in a few more days. There are rescue teams from all over the world, including the countrymen of Oli in Iceland who were the first to get there!!!

People are beginning to receive food and water, but if you don't understand the desperation of people in a situation like this, and you don't understand that human nature is such that in these situations the strong can and do and will take advantage of the weak, then no, you won't understand just how dicey it is to try to distribute anything without security. There are 4500 prisoners loose, some rapists and murderers. Where are the Haitian city police? Half of them apparently are on duty. Among the others, many probably are dead or injured. Others are trying to care for their own families. Hence the need for our troops. More than 300 UN personnel are still missing. Others are on duty.

ALL ARE DOING THEIR LEVEL BEST, including those who live there, and those coming to their aid from all over the world. But it takes time, in the best of circumstances. This is perhaps the WORST circumstance that might have happened in the modern history of the world. What we are witnessing is an epic disaster, and sadly, one that is surely to be repeated someday even within our own country. There are a few things that are similar to the Christmas tsunami of a few years ago in Sumatra, but the difference is the scope of the disaster in ONE PLACE. And the number of people here who lived through it who are injured, versus the incredible loss of life in the tsunami where those who died did so from drowning and in the actual event. Those who remained behind did not number in the millions in one place. 

"And when so many streets are completely blocked, then what?"

The best relief the people of Haiti could have received immediately after the earthquake would have been a fleet of large bulldozers, loaders and dump trucks to clear the streets.

But how would anyone provide such help?  The port facilities are toast, as the only two cranes are now twisted steel.  The dock is damaged and unfit for use.  I suppose some heavy equipment could be flown in on military transport aircraft, but is the lone runway at the airport big enough to handle such massive aircraft?

 

Another point: I hear a lot of people assuming that because Haiti is a Third World country with few resources, a natural disaster of that scale could never impact us in the U.S. the same way.  Let's just say I hope I'm not around when Yellowstone erupts again and there's no meaningful agriculture on the planet for a few years.  Or if that mountainside in the Canaries falls into the sea and creates a 200-foot high tsunami  that hits the entire East Coast.     

All the way back to Uglydog,
I don't think any of that matters to those who are suffering.

You are right about the injustice in the world, but these people no nothing about that.
You asked why the difference, why do you think?
I already know why.

Moons.

Is there any particular point left to this thread?
I can't tell.

DD,

Yellowstone is not predicted, for what that is worth, to erupt for millions of years. When it does, or one of the other super volcanoes does erupt, it probably means the end of people.

More likely is the magnitude 7 or 8 or higher quake, be it a slip fault quake coming from the San Andreas or another like fault, or the collision and release of two techtonic plates in the area. The NW and CA are on the burner for one of those and it is much more likely to occur in the not so distant future. Seattle, for example, would be a good candidate for an horrific quake that would likely generate also a tsunami and would kill thousands and thousands of people.

The runway at Port-au-Price can handle very large cargo planes and could and will provide some heavy equipment in the days to come. I have a friend who is in the process of arranging transport for such equipment and yes, they will go through the airport and port area and try to make some passable roads and then open up some main arteries within the city. But the city itself is not particularly conductive to large equipment as many of the streets were really not streets to begin with, but rather alleys. It is a daunting task and much of the city will end up being cleared completely in the months to come.

I was unaware that Brady was married to a model.

Moons, there is a point to this thread. It is to urge all who read it to donate funds to some organization that is helping and vetted. It is also to dispel certain notions mentioned by those who mean well and are frustrated for the slow progress there. By explaining what really happens in such situations, perhaps we can all learn or be reminded how important it is to be prepared for the worst. There are many areas in our country subject to earthquake or tsunami, including NYC and the east coast as well as the middle of the country (Madrid fault) and the NW and CA.

Take care. Enjoy your day.

The situation in Haiti brings to mind a verse from a poem by Robert Service (my favourite poet):

The Wanderlust has taught me . . . it has whispered to my heart
Things all you stay-at-homes will never know.
The white man and the savage are but three short days apart,
Three days of cursing, crawling, doubt and woe.
Then it's down to chewing muclucs, to the water you can eat,
To fish you bolt with nose held in your hand.
When you get right down to cases, it's King's Grub that rules the races,
And the Wanderlust will help you understand.


Until we are in a situation like this, have experienced it firsthand, we can never truly understand it.  Of course, because Haiti is a tropical country, the need for water is even more desperate than the need for food.

There are many organizations on that list I would not give a dime too.

And what happens in a situation like this is obscene, it's a Circus.

As far as future disasters, they won't be handled any better.

As for Yellowstone, nature is unpredictable and anything is possible at any time.

Your right most people don't understand the reality of disaster and there is only so much preparation for such events, the rest is up to those who are there and I believe the Haitian people are doing what they can.

Sadly it will take time no matter what.

Seconds are like days to a child.

To enjoy a day is rare for me.

You enjoy yours.

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