I’ve been watching CNN all day, as Hurricane Katrina devastated the Louisiana, Mississippi & Alabama coast lines. Cites from New Orleans to Biloxi to Mobile look like they’ve been through a dozen Irwin Allen movies…
…only this time, it was all real. There was even a giant oil rig platform, wedged under one of the tallest bridges on the Gulf coast. It would seem movies such as Earthquake and The Towering Inferno have nothing on the unbridled ferocity of Mother Nature.
Yet, despite the death and destruction, it’s the economic impact of the storm that will be felt for months to come. Even I wasn’t aware that so much oil & natural gas production was centred around the Louisiana coast. I had no idea that New Orleans was the only US port capable of handling the giant international oil tankers, arriving from other parts of the world with the imported black gold that helps keep American running. In turn, barges carrying US grain down the Mississippi river arrive to unload their cargo onto waiting ships.
My next thought: what were they thinking?
Commentators throughout the day have said time and again that there is no reason for so many refinery and pipeline centres to be located within a hundred miles of the Mississippi delta. It’s ridiculous that the apparent reason for this is either 1—laziness, because it’s all so close, or 2—just cause!
Either way, we’re going to be facing some expensive times in the coming days, all thanks to a storm that, one week ago, no one was watching with any seriousness. It would seem that lack of curiosity also kills the cat…or, at the very least, seriously maims it.
UPDATE—8:44am
People are dead. Buildings have collapsed. People are calling for help.
Even the CNN reporters are suffering, as I watch one who’s voice is breaking as she tries to recount watching the total devestation caused by Katrina.
And now, reports that a levee has failed in New Orleans. The Mayor says that 80% of his city is underwater. If this is “being lucky” because Katrina spared the city a direct hit, it’s too horrific to imagine what would have happened if the city had remained directly in her path.
Actually, you don’t have to imagine — simply look at neighbouring Mississippi, where the Mayor of Biloxi has simply stated: “This is our tsunami.”
Storm porn has given way to gutwrenching human tragedy. I haven’t prayed much lately, but I will pray for the people of the gulf coast today.
