> --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > My addition: Nightline did a town hall meeting show the other night > in which > they discussed the nation's preparedness for disasters which are > likely to > strike. The general consensus was that despite 4 years of "Homeland > Security" efforts, we are poorly prepared.
LOOKING BACK ON HURRICANE HISTORY President: Nixon Category 5 Hurricane Camille, August 1969 Area: About the same area as that affected by Katrina Response: Nixon prepared the National Guard in advance, ordering rescue ships from Tampa and Houston to stand waiting along with over a thousand regular military, 24+ helicopters to assist the Coast Guard and National Guard about as soon as the hurricane passed. President: Bush (the Elder) Category 5 Hurricane Andrew, August 1992 Area: Florida Response: In the middle of a re-election campaign, Bush ceased campaigning the day before the hurricane, went to Washington, and assembled one of the largest military forces ever mustered on US soil. 7,000 National Guard and 22,000 regular military were sent in with the necessary equipment shortly after the hurricane passed through. President: Clinton Category 3 Hurricane Floyd, September 1999 Area: Virginia and Carolinas Response: Meeting with China's president Jiang in New Zealand, Clinton immediately declared the hurricane-affected areas federal disasters, allowing the military and National Guard to move in and help. Clinton flew home immediately, one day before the hurricane hit, to help coordinate the rescue. President: Bush (the Younger) Category 5 Hurricane Katrina, August 2005 Area: Gulf Coast Response: National Guard troops are down about 8,000 members because they are in Iraq with much of the needed rescue equipment. Bush was on vacation, riding his bike for two hours the day before the hurricane landed. On that day, Bush attended a birthday party for John McCain. The levees began to crack. While emergency 1.5-ton sandbags were ready to be placed to strengthen the levee and exclude water, there were insufficient helicopters and pilots to set them before the levees broke. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded for federal-level assistance and got none. Bush went to San Diego to play guitar with a country singer and end his vacation early - but not until the next day, because he had tickets to a San Diego Padres game. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
