Is New Orleans Lucky This Hurricane: That It Is An Election Year?

Question

Do you think that New Orleans will receive more aid, delivered more quickly this time because the Republicans cannot afford to have a PR disaster like that this close to an election?

Answer 1

I think *you* are not paying attention. Katrina taught everyone a great deal, and the actions now being taken are very proactive. Katrina response was reactive.

The thousands of buses transporting people, the out-of-state refuge centers, the barcoded wrist bands so you know who is where and when they got there, the thousands of travel cages provided by the ASPCA, and indeed, the mandatory evacuation itself -- those things were all developed as a result of Katrina.

And, since you felt like inserting politics into it, bear in mind that the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana at the time of Katrina were both deomcrats, and their failures were as egregious as those of the federal government.

Answer 2

I don't think it being an election year will make any difference on the government side of the house. The candidates will most likely try to grab some air time out of it.

The difference in response is significant.  The city had a hurricane plan this time.  The state and federal government went on alert.  Normally, however the federal government would not respond until requested to by the state. Normally , that response is expected to take at least 3 days.  I do not know of a state request to the federal government but it may have happened.  

Another thing that appears to have happened is that they are now saying to have at least 7 days of food and water available.  I believe they used to say 3 days.

Everybody learned something.  I don't think the residents resisted leaving at all.

Answer 3

Wait and see how bad the storm is by the time it hits the US...things are underway with all kinds of preparations for this storm