Like the sun coming up in the east and setting in the west, you can count on it. Every year. Every dagnab, doggone, dadgum year (as they say down there where these hurricanes happen). Some are just bigger than others, but they all cause damage.
The highest point in the Bahamas is around 40 feet above sea level, but most of the inhabitants live around 5 feet about sea level. The photos of the devastation from the wind and storm surge on the western islands reveals almost complete destruction of anything man made. And most of the trees, too.
Everybody who has lived in U.S. hurricane prone areas for 10 years or so knows about these hurricanes - they've lived through them (or many of them have lived through them). And yet when hurricanes rise up and wipe out their mobile home, there they are; standing there in front of the camera, stained wife-beater T-shirt proudly displayed, tears in their eyes wondering how such a thing could happen. And then the Governor declares the place an emergency, FEMA swoops in and hands out free goodies, and everybody gets free stuff.
Who pays for all this free stuff and rebuilding going on in known flood areas and hurricane alleys? The rest of us do, those who don't build with the intent on getting wiped out. We cough up in tax payer dollars and increased insurance premiums for these idiots who get reimbursed by all the common sense folks out there who don't put themselves in harms way on purpose.
Why do we put up with this, year in and year out? And why, when the gambler stumbles out of the casino dead broke, after having put up his life savings on black at the roulette table and it came up green, do we not dip into our pockets and bail this poor wretch out?
And why, when the sky diver's widow appears on TV, crying for the recent loss of her hubby whose chute didn't open, don't we just pay off all her debts and retire her mortgage and pay for all her kid's college tuition?
And how about all of those dopes who build their houses in New Orleans - BELOW SEA LEVEL - and then the inevitable flood comes into town, destroying everything there. Are we still bailing out those dopes?
Apparently we are. When will we ever stop enabling these fools who knowingly put themselves in peril, always expecting more sensible folk to come to their rescue?
Probably never. Sigh.
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15 comments:
Cynic. Not that your aren't right.
Cynics are usually always right.
It's true, just ask me...
The media should just write one scary hurricane article and use it year after year. Such a time saver. Frankly, I could give a rip. All those retired people who flocked to Florida. Really? Dumb move (IMO)
I've said the same thing for years, but I'm called "uncaring." Piss on 'em! Nobody has ever helped me!
Adrienne: been awhile since seeing you here, how are you doing?
And yes, Florida is NOT the place to retire and live in a dwelling that is not subject to complete demolition every 5 years or so. Now, if you relish evacuating your home periodically and look forward to returning to a pile of splintered 2x4's and Tyvec that used to be your home, good choice.
Gorges: yes, uncaring, callous, mean spirited. I'm subject to that, too.
But people will still build in perilous areas, I can't help but notice and say something.
I'm hoping they don't decide to sell their land and move farther north. Our area is packed to the gills over the last few years. Life used to be enjoyable; now we all have to watch our back, while also paying out the nose for uninsured motorists. This country gets worse and "worser" by the day. I too am a cynic and ready to scream with all the influx of illegal foreigners coming in getting handouts. Florida is full of these leeches, not just a state for retired folks anymore. The place is a shambles just like my state has become. Off the subject but just couldn't help myself.
Caddie: us cynics have to stick together. I can't imagine Tennessee putting up with a swarm of Floridians seeking to turn the Volunteer State into South Beach, and likely that won't happen since they want to stick around for all the free FEMA goodies.
As one who lives in the middle of tinder (a massive pine forest) that will inevitably burn from time to time, I guess I share some common cause with the people of Florida. You sort of roll the dice and hope that tragedy averts until after you're dead. Then the majestic house in the woods becomes a burden for the kids.
LL: we all roll the dice and pick our poison. But for most thinking folks, they mitigate their choices. I suspect that those of you who choose to build in pine forests that your selection of roofing and siding materials are of a fire-resistant nature. In hurricane prone areas, those who choose to build there would be well served to use steel studs for framing, masonry as much as possible and stilts/elevated foundations. From what I see on the film footage of the devastation, nobody is doing that.
Hence the sob stories...
Perfect Fredd. Perfect.
People in Tornado zones have basements - just in case. Why aren't building codes in these areas required to specify safe rooms - metal walled rooms built on stilts driven many tens of feet into the ground with guaranteed air and water access? Hurricane Barack heading your way and no time to evacuate? Head for the safe room. Course you still have the effect of damage to the main house which will be rebuilt using dollars I've paid into any insurance plan I am required to maintain...
When they spent billions to rebuild parts of N Orleans that is below sea level, I knew nothing like this would ever be made to make any sense.
Well it's all a larf untill it hits Martha's Vineyard, because all those $15 million seaside summer mansions will be washed away by global warming.
Saying that, aren't we supposed to be getting good at geoengineering? DIVERT the hurricanes from the poor Bahamas to the EVIL VINEYARD. Problem? Solution.
Kid: you got me as to how on earth any government anywhere can sanction establishing permanent structures on islands that don't meet some kind of hurricane standard in these hurricane prone areas.
They will all get blown down as sure as that straw and stick house that the three little pigs put up. And then they finally figured out that brick houses seem to get the job done.
I'm OK with helping out those in the 500-year flood range. A whole lot of the USA fails into that category, and it's not like those who insist on the scenic riverbank/ocean views, who SHOULD lose everything.
I'd cut some slack to those in hurricane/tornado areas, IF they took out a LOAN to shore up/reinforce their home to a higher level of protection against the elements (that, of course, could be helped with some government option - picking up PART of the interest, for example).
Otherwise, Caveat Emptor - YOUR loss.
NO further government help to those in known disaster areas who build in the future - not residents, not companies.
Linda Fox: I agree, the government needs to butt out in the affairs of those who want to build in harm's way.
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