Do Over
Most of the time, hurricanes cause damage rather than repair it. Yet somehow, as Rita lumbers across the Gulf, ready to deal out devestation to another chunk of America, I can almost hear the smacking of lips in Washington. This time, you know they will be prepared (though whether there is enough basic competence in the Homeland Security Department to meet the challenge is, of course, an open question). I just bet that some of those folks are hoping this is a really bad one - worse than Katrina - so that they'll have a counter-narrative to the Great Failure that's been hung around their neck so far. "Yeah, we missed some things the first time around, but we got it right now. Don't you feel safer - and stupid for criticizing us?"
Myself, I'm hoping we don't ever have to find out whether the government has learned from its mistakes and that Rita either peters out or hits somewhere relatively harmless. Also, Texas isn't Louisiana (and damn proud of it, too). I doubt we'll see the kind of lack of coordination between state, local and federal officials, or the scrambling for basic resources.
In any case, I wish them the best down there. And to my friends in Houston - don't mess around. Pack up the truck and head for high ground!
8:03:05 AM
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