This hurricane has changed the lives of so many
people. I have cried everyday. There is nothing to argue about, and so much to
learn from.
I live on the little peninsula that is attached to
the bigger one in Pinellas County, Florida. We could have very easily been New
Orleans or Gulfport. I am one mile from our beach. Even though we are above sea
level, a 40 ft. surge would have wiped out condos and homes all the way up to my
front door, and then some.
Maybe because of the fact that we stick out like a
sore thumb and have been hit a few times, I think we have a better handle on
such things like evacuation. We also have D. A. R. T for our animals and every
year they have training. Every year we get educated about what to do in a
hurricane. There will always be those who refuse to leave their homes. Not me. A
cat 5 one mile from the beach and it is every man for himself. Even if you do
decide to ride out a hurricane you can't possibly stockpile enough water for a
family of four or so for a month or more. And if you have animals they need food
and water also. You do what you can and that is all you can do.
We were without power for a week during the last
season and that was without a direct hit. That also meant no water for the
horses because their pump is on a well which needs electricity. We were hauling
water out to the pasture 2 or 3 times a day. The heat and humidity was
unbearable and tempers rose everywhere. That was just for one week. I can't even
begin to imagine what the folks in MS and LA are feeling. Anger is justifiable
I'm guessing.
So I would be pretty pissed myself if our local
government failed to respond quickly. New Orleans and Gulfport are very much
tourist destinations just like us. So not only do we citizens who live here year
round pay tax dollars but so does everybody who visits us. While we may have
poor people, our cities are very rich. We manage to get people in to spend money
on things like gambling, Disney, the beaches, I can't imagine that we couldn't
get people out to save lives. That just wouldn't make sense.
Our county has school buses, city buses and could
rent buses if need be. I would hope that our Governor Bush, being from Texas and
all would have the guts to tell our police do what is necessary to protect the
innocent. Looting doesn't mean a damn thing right now and people with guns
preventing help are only in the way and need to moved by any means available.
I can't for the life of me understand why I have
seen reporters, and celebrities in the hardest hit areas, but no one else could
get there. It just doesn't make sense. I think the citizens have every right to
be angry. Children being separated from parents, people dying not because of the
hurricane itself, but because they can't get any water and government officials
talking on a TV that the victims can't see telling them help is on the way.
Any disaster is going to followed by some degree of
mayhem. But as taxpayers we do expect a level of confidence from our government
that while we will do all we can to stay alive, help will arrive quickly to keep
us alive. I think that's only fair.
You will see those tax dollars at work when they
start to rebuild. They will rebuild. Hopefully they will check and double
check with the planning commission, the engineers, the builders, and will put
into place a much better plan for the next time.
There will be a next time.
Lisa Salas, Feeling SO blessed here at the Odd FArm.
Try not to be so critical, (I know ,it's hard for
me too) and just send a donation.
