What the hell were we thinking?

[Scutter]

After the fact we find that the folks rescued from New Orleans may be carrying strains of all kinds of virus and disease and we may now have now just spread some of those across the entire nation. One of the problems with our modern health care system is that we have forgotten how to counteract such old time killers such as cholera. In their rush to avoid a political disaster, our government may just have unleashed a public health disaster upon all of us. Of course I did not think about that until days later, and I am sure that many other folks did not think of it either, however, one of the seven uniformed services of the United States is the Public Health Service and it is their job to identify and contain potentials for the outbreak of disease in the land. Knowing that there was a health risk to and from people who had been emersed in the water after it had set a few days, the PHS should have had some kind of quarantine procedure set up. I fear that our initial inaction will end up having far greater potential for damage than anyone could have imagined.

[shinobi]

That's just the problem Scutter, they weren't thinking.
But really, was there any decent facilities close to the area to quaratine them?

I think it's just one of the many procedures that fell through the cracks of our bureaucracy. I have learned that many times, the most important things are in the details of any endeavor and are sometimes taken for granted and overlooked. Until it's too late.

It sounds like people will be getting sick and dying from this catastrophe for weeks and months to come.

[Scutter]

As a matter of fact there were many places, mostly military bases and "abandoned in place" military bases where the needs of these people could have been met and still maintained a large degree of seperation from the public at large until it was assesed with certainty that disease would not be spread. Of course, the spead of disease is a direct result of our massive failure to put assets in place in a timely manner to address these problems, however, you have to realize that. this is what we pay hundreds of thousands of burecrats for, to anticipate and solve these problems before they become epidemic.

[shinobi]

I agree.

[Dragonrider2024]

20/20 hindsight is truely a wonderful tool. And the more I think of how much of this transpired I would have to agree with zziggy on this where much of the blame SHOULD fall on the Mayor's shoulders. It is HIS city after all.

As far as who ordered what and where?? It may never come to light. But in the recent years with the amount of natural disasters, AngelicScot put it best..... Mother nature is paying us back.

Ah well. With Bush not having to get re-elected why SHOULD he care. As for Cheney - I hope no one in their right mind would want him as pres. The Gov - she may be just as corrupt as the city itself.

Ok the FEMA funds were cut - what did she, FEMA, and other state agencies do with the monies??? Could almost be Neosho but on a much larger scale. I don't know.

[shinobi]

I don't think the Mayor of New Orleans should be held for blame because this affected a whole lot more than New Orleans. Are we going to put most of the blame on him for all the small towns along the coast that are gone or damaged too? Gulfport? Biloxi? More than a hundred miles of coastland involved here. Yeah, Dubs people don't mention that because they see Nagin as a scapegoat to be offered to media.

He's pissed and I think he has every right to be.:rolleyes:

[Dragonrider2024]

I'm saying for New Orleans only, as the other cities should hold their mayors accountable. I look at it this way, the Mayor is like the captain of a ship - if the ship runs aground it's not the Admirals fault, Joint chiefs, the presidents it rests solely on the captain, xo, officer of the watch's fault (maybe through in the ops boss too).

In looking at the corruption of New Orleans/LA you have to wonder when a state allows the likes of David Duke to be gov, just how corrupt are things????

[joetowngirl]

I did realize the potential for disease to be spread throughout the nation but unfortunately I have no say in what happened to the refugees (who now prefer to be called escapees, victims, or survivors).

Time will tell if any disease outbreaks happen and I hope none do because I doubt the ability of our government to contain an outbreak.

[Dragonrider2024]

I do want to apologize for getting off topic - will accept my flogging at noon!!!!

Will be interesting to see what kind of bacteria and viruses will be formed. Could be a blessing in disguise - only the shadow knows.

[Scutter]

Dragon, as I see it a good part of this problem lies at FEMA's feet for not including the PHS in the immediate response. Damnit the plan calls for that. I understand that there have now been cholera deaths in Mississippi and Texas among displaced people there and, if I remember correctly, that is a fast spreading and nasty disease.

[Dragonrider2024]

For the countries sake (world too if you think about it), is that lessons are learned and not repeated. Has been a long time since I've seen countries asking what they can do, too bad some were thrown back in their faces.

[Scutter]

Yes it is Dragon, and it bothers me that our people made that decision to turn down or delay aid, not only from Cuba but also from Sweden and The Netherlands, while the people affected were in desperate need of tha aid. In some of these countries the aircraft were loaded and sitting on the runway awaiting a clearance which never came. Obviously after four days of waiting, the crews stood down. This was the way a majority of aid offers were handled, not just a few. Back to topic, I am amazed that the people affected are still being funneled into the population at large, especially since some of these diseases have a four week incubation time.

[Iceman]

Well, you can thank the CLOWNS at Homeland Security for that, along with the E.P.A. :mad: It seems as though when they went to school, they stood in the corner wearing a DUNCE CAP.... Iceman ---

[Scutter]

It would appear Iceman, that our paranoid fear of terrorism has cost more lives than any terrorist attack ever could have. I understand part of the delay was due to having to send in screening personnel and metal dectectors to the airports that needed to be used for relief activities.