Katrina Strikes

September 8, 2005

We had not even rescued all of the Katrina survivors or collected the last of the bodies floating in the churning sea, as the politicians, advocates and pundits rushed to blame someone. Blame Bush. Blame the Mayor. Someone must take responsibility.

Well let me say, it's more complicated than that.

Let me make two points:

As citizens of a democratic nation, we are very reluctant to prepare for the improbable.
We don't expect the tragedy to strike us anyway. Maybe somebody else, but not me.

Hurricanes come and hurricanes go. They threaten Florida and the weather service issues a warning. The Governor and officials warn the people to evacuate to safety. They board up their houses and leave. But some refuse to leave. The storm either misses them altogether or does minimal damage. Those that evacuated return and those who stayed-put ask, "Why did you leave? It wasn't so bad." That's what has been the case in Florida.

You see I'm not surprised that thousands of people in and around New Orleans refused to leave. After all, the city had lived under a voodoo charm for 200 years. I have heard some radio and TV reports from "know it all experts" that we should have anticipated the Katrina disaster.

The truth is most people didn't know Katrina would strike with such ferocity. New Orleans and many other coastal cities over the years have grown and developed in the face of the hurricane risk. We have thumbed our nose at the risk. And I predict that we will continue to do that.

We don't do anything until we have to. We are just now, with $3.00 per gallon gasoline, beginning to realize that maybe we need more alternative energy sources. We didn't strike back at the terrorists until 9-11.

The final point that I would leave with you is that it isn't wrong to do nothing to safeguard against every threat, because we can't afford to pay for absolute safety.

Until next week, I am John Block from Washington.