The advantage, if you can call it that, of a hurricane in August rather than late October is that at least it’s warm, not freezing, like it was after Sandy It will take weeks to restore power just as it did in 2012. But the deeper fear is that without power, people won’t be able to drink potable water or keep life-saving equipment running.
Katrina should have been the canary in the coal mine. In fact, Katrina should have been a symphony of canaries. We’ve had these warnings for decades now but big money from the fossil fuel industry has managed to get those in power to ignore them to our detriment. The owners of offshore drilling, coal mines, and oil wells don’t live where they might be impacted by Idea or the residual storm in Tennessee or Kentucky.
Yes, the new levees built since Katrina did save New Orleans from the devastation it had in 2005, but the cost of protecting our coastal areas outweighs the revenue from the fossil fuel companies claim they give to our economy. What we need is a different kind of cost benefit analysis, one that takes real human need into consideration.
Prayer for the Day
Pushed and badgered by fears of job loss and declining revenues,
Companies concerned only with their own profits hold us hostage;
Like princes of old, their owners sit on ivory couches
While workers toil in dangerous places for a pittance.
Shake us awake, O Lord, so we truly see the cost of greed
And change our ways of living so all humanity will benefit.
In the name of the One who overturned tables of the moneychangers,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
There’s a lot more rapid intensification [of hurricanes] in a warmed climate and that includes the accident of it rapidly intensifying just before making landfall.
Kerry Emanuel, hurricane scientist at MIT
Once Ida was predicted to reach Category 4 strength, officials didn’t have enough time to organize safe contraflow out of the city for all 390,000 people in New Orleans.
Claire Holahan, writer for The Atlantic living in New Orleans
Alas for those who lie on bed of ivory, and lounge upon their couches,
And eat lambs from the flock and calves from the stall;
Who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David play instruments of music;
Who drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
But are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
Amos 6: 4-6