Lack of National Will

Published on November 25, 2003 By stevendedalus In Politics

Annually I’m distressed when floods and forest fires wreak terror on our populace and properties. We get all riled up over terrorism but never make any attempt to control these catastrophes.

Because of FEMA we tend to think that floods are taken as a matter of course without an effort to begin planning a way to eliminate or at least minimize the devastation by mass projects of strategic dam-building and embankment construction. The US has lost its will to develop safety infrastructure second to none to protect its citizenry. The government seems content to dole out billions for national emergencies in lieu of getting at the causes. Even with the 9/11 lesson, we are slow in setting up precautions as though terrorism can only be enacted on airplanes.

As for forest fires, we continue to see the pathetic helicopter flying over raging fires to dump minuscule amounts of water or retardants. Where is the air force? It should send thousands of sorties to the fiery scenes and drape wide swaths of retardants to hold the rage in check. The environmental agency should be as much concerned for the weeding out of diseased trees cleaning up debris as it is for the forest’s wild life. As for residents who must live in and near the forests, they should form associations that monitor the environs all year round.

Moreover, is any research ever done about hurricanes and tornados? In this day and age can we not make serious efforts to control mother nature’s wrath? Serious think tanks should be forged to ferret out how the conditions that cause these horrendous incidents can be put to an end. Too much is expended on space and barely no funds for research on our own atmosphere. We pretty much know at least in theory how to rock an incoming meteor from its course, is it so hard to figure out a way to bomb the hell out of a tornado or steer a hurricane out to sea? Nothing in this cockeyed environment is impossible if there is a national will.

Comments

kthxbye

on Nov 25, 2003

Well, if you check defenselink.mil and a host of other sites, you'll find that the National Guard is usually rather active in doing things like fighting forest fires with their helicopters, as well as other forms of disaster relief.

The Air National Guard also uses C130's for fighting forest fires quite often. Just one example, I know.

"Moreover, is any research ever done about hurricanes and tornados?"

This is also done - and quite a lot of money goes into it. In fact, some of the most powerful computers in the world are used solely for the study and research of weather and weather patterns, etc.

Natural disasters however, are just that. NATURAL. Because of the way the atmosphere, weather, etc. works - the only way to end things such as a hurricane would require drastic changes to the way the world, quite simply, works. The same winds which cause hurricanes are also responsible for many other things which keeps our ecosystem operating.

JeremyG

on Nov 25, 2003

No, you cannot control mother nature.

If you prepare for a flood, a bigger one will come. etc etc

stevendedalus

on Nov 25, 2003

Touché. You're probably right, especially since we have no will to do something.

rrk

on Nov 25, 2003

I'm glad to hear that; however, where the hell were they for Cal's latest devastation.

Sherye Hanson

on Jan 07, 2004

The best thing for such situations is prevention. Forests should be left to animals. Flood plains left to rivers and houses should be build to withstand hurricanes. As to tornados, cellars are the best protection along with a warning system.

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