Avoiding Another Katrina

one thing to rember is the mindset of louisana to california, the louisana governor did not request help until very later from the federal goverment while the calif governor did. also more californians were used to helping themselves in case of disasters or whatever while a lot of people in louisana were not. a better informed, more affulant and more knowlged community is better able to help themselves than one who relies on some one else to help them.

NOBODY is at fault when such disasters strike. How can any of you point the finger at anyone else?
Human beings are always fingering the blame to someone else. YOU people disgust me. I have to be blunt. EVERYBODY should be ashamed of themselves and offer upport and encouragement to the Californians in there time of crises.

I suppose the people in Minnesota weren't properly prepared to handle a bridge collapse, were they sborr? Nice brain!

It would appear that most of you either have no idea of the girth of inequity or don't care. Whatever the case, I'm done with all this skirting the real issues and all the " God bless us, everyone" bullshit. Enjoy your SUVs, potato chips and big screen plasma TVs. I'll be fighting to save this country from itself.

I really Thank the People who are helping the Victims.The Humanity is the first thing in life we have to understand.As Life is not about comparing.I feel sorry for the victims who has lost there homes.I thank the california Gov. for coordinating with the Medical Logistic coordinators and helping the Victims.

Everything discussed in this article is no surprise. California has always been a front runner when it comes to disaster preparedness. The State, counties, and municipalities have disaster plans in place and most counties have a mutual aid plan. I was at the Santa Clarita fires as a first responder and saw fire units and law enforcement officers from other counties and cities assisting with evacuations and fighting the fires. I don't know where people get the idea that FEMA will show up and save the day, that's not their function. They come in with money and supplies for rebuilding the areas stricken and assisting those who have lost everything. The Calfires show what proper planning, cooperation, coordination, and implementation between the State, counties, and municipalities can accomplish. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's better than most states. Fema was used as a scapegoate for the poor planning and lack of preparation by the State of Louisiana, the county and city of New Orleans. "failure to prepare is preparing to fail"

Katrina vs. CaliFire: Katrina victims were give 72 hours notice to evacuate. Califire victims were given less than 6 hours to evacuate. Katrina was considered by many there as a 'license to vandelize.' Califire was not used by CaliPeople as an excuse to vandelize/riot -- these people pulled together and helped each other out. Katrina = CaliFire in only this way: It's President Bush's Fault (well, that's what the liberal politicians and media want the 'sheep' to believe). Don't be a lib zombie.

I live here in San Diego between two fires and I can honestly say that to try to even compare this to LA during Katrina would be a big mistake. For one, the people gathered in my backyard (Qualcomm Stadium) have power, bathrooms, water, infrastructure, their cars,... If they get hungrey, they can go to the superstore down the street, or the starbucks for their morning coffee. In LA, after Katrina, none of that existed.

In San Diego county, 1 person has died. In New Orleans 1300 people died. I feel sorry for the people that will say they have lost their homes, and everything in the coming weeks here in San Diego. It is truely sad. The people of New Orleans would say that too in their following weeks -if they were not too dehydrated, starved, and too weak to speak before dying and ofcoarse, being dead.

correction: Our resources could be better spent on INSURING our borders and the paths into this nation ARE SAFE.

To: DGU56 With nearly 3Xs the population now compared to 100 years ago, you would think, we could pull together to overcome anything. Drop your remotes and sodas, and if you do have the resources to help, HELP. I am positive everyone of us from here on out will begin to realize the mistakes we have been making more and more as each passing year shows a new type of "Disaster" never seen before. The two biggest problems in our government, in my opinion, are: 1. Our immigration statutes need to be enforced and updated. I see a house of 10-15 Illegal immigrants everday as I travel to town and from town to my home. I know for a fact, because I have talked with some of them, that they are illegal. Somehow, if stopped by a police officer, they do not get deported, they get what almost looks like Diplomatic Immunity. As if they are not breaking the law.
and now the number 2. War in Iraq: No matter the motive, no matter the decision to invade in 2003, disregard all the junk we know about what has happened since Desert Storm and WWII. Let us think back in time, before the good ole' United States of America was created. The middle east was chaotic and wartorn then as well. It is nothing new for Christian extremists and Muslim extremists to war with one another. They say this is not a religious war. Well to our enemy it is. Our response is that they are terrorists. Not that they are our "God's" sworn enemy. Either way the pendelum swings, my belief is to let the Arab nations, deal with the Arab nations. Our resources could be better spent on INSURING our borders and paths into our nation should be SAFE. From illegal immigrants, terrorism, the list goes on. It makes more sense if you are worried about a nuclear weapon, to spend money developing MORE DEFENSES AT HOME to deter such a weapon. Therefore you render that threat useless.

Now this brings me to 3. Natural Disasters, which is what this article is about. Our money would be here and these 3 things would not be if 1 and 2 were taken care of.
as far as corruption DGU it is everywhere...

California has proved to be very efficient in disaster relief with out federal government support. The FEDS have yet to cut a check for the state, but the state's own people have come together to help each other and accommodate everyone who has been displaced. This is a state has spent billions on disaster relief prepardness state wide. California knows how to handle natural disasters....I am glad I grew up in a state that took my public safety seriously.

The difference is that the Governor was a Republican with compassion for his people, just like Mr Bush
did for the Hurricane victims of Katrina. Kathleen Blanco who is Democrat, there was no compassion just
bunch of "blame" on Mr. Bush for everything. I am glad that Bobby Jindal will the same compassion that
Governor Schwarzenegger did if a hurricane ever approach Louisiana the next time. As for Ms. Blanco,
she will go down as one of the worse female govenors in that state's history. God Bless the California
governor and the people for being brave through such awful time. They will survive this!

Katrina and CA fires are different. The race, politics and incomes should not be a comparison. CA is very diversified in race. No "person" is better, if you are a true nice person. Politics have nothing to do with Bush/Arnold - it's merely because CA is somewhat used to disasters, with earthquakes, where LA/South had not had such a huge hurricane in a long time. And, lessons were learned on Katrina, so they have reacted faster this time. Bush is not to blame for Katrina's failures, nor this, as he has to rely on a LOT of people to do their jobs, and everyone blames him. In CA the roads are open somewhat, where the floods closed all of the roads in Katrina. Money doesn't matter, really. If you hear of a disaster coming, it's common sense to get out - on a bus, with a neighbor, in your limo - whatever. Even if you have money, and the hotels are all booked, where do you go? I wasn't born rich, and I work hard just to maintain a middle income status - just like a lot of CA and LA (and MS, TX, etc.) people. I send prayers your way, whatever disaster you may have. I've had cancer, and I've had a house fire, and I've had good times, too. As a nation we need to pull together, stop making mean comments, start helping, and may God bless you in the future. My mom said if you can't say something nice, then don't say it at all! My sister's family is in Fallbrook with all of this, between Temecula and Fallbrook, so I'm worried about them and their friends, which everyone here should be, too! If you are pro-Katrina or pro-CA, whatever, go spend some energy by donating money to the Red Cross or something rather than making bad will here, ok? Have a nice day and please pray for the best.

He's Republican. She's Democrat

He s Replubican.... Blanco's Democrat. That s why

Just an update: right now, this minute, there is big controversy brewing in San Diego about these tanker planes that were supposed to be here. They haven't arrived as promised and people are getting mad.

dgu56 - I take full responsibility - I signed my name to MY post...........Patricia