The Gulf Coast's Heartbreak at Dawn

As the sun arose today over southern Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, helicopter crews began showing the world live images of ruin and devastation, of countless thousands of flooded, permanently ruined homes and businesses. Among them scattered fires have broken out, perhaps the result of pilot lights finding spilling natural gas from broken lines; perhaps for other reasons. Paradoxically surrounded by millions of gallons of free roaming sea water, the fires will continue, and in some cases spread to other buildings, unchallenged since there is no way anyone can get there to fight them.

In square mile after square mile the video shows what can only be described as immense heartbreak, for each flooded home represents displaced lives and lost connections to the past. Each wrecked business represents jobs that no longer exist for bread winners. Inside some of the homes, without doubt, are the drowned men, women and children who unwisely chose to brave Katrina. Inside, or on top of, other homes are frightened refugees desperate for rescue by boat or by air.

Total loss of life as yet unknown. Total loss of property will be in the multi-billions of dollars. Total damage to the region is incalculable. And not just the region -- the Katrina disaster, as one relief worker termed it, "is our tsunami." Another disaster official said the miles and miles of ruined cities "is like a nuclear disaster but without the lingering radiation."

In New Orleans eighty percent of the city is flooded. After initial jubilation over the apparent survival of the downtown business district and the historically important and colorful French Quarter, more shock and heartbreak as a two-block section of levee failed overnight, which continues to dump flood waters into parts of the city that had initially been spared. The sun is shining, but there is little to smile about, and the tragedy is just beginning.

Along the Gulf Coast there are homes and businesses which no longer exist, foundations alone testifying to the fact that lives and jobs "used to be here." Thirty-two foot storm surges from out of the sea, whipped by 150 mph winds, can do that. The world watches televised pictures of the pews in church sanctuaries open to the sunlight, the roofs torn peeled back like the tops of soup cans.

Martial law is declared over the entire region. Curfews are invoked. Sporadic looting reminds us that even in the light of massive human disaster and heartbreak there are always a few who still choose not to respect the rights of others. Although in one respect it is hard to blame anyone for looking for food or necessities in order to survive in the hell that is left. And that may well be the case in some instances of so-called looting, simply beleaguered, haunted individuals trying to survive for a day longer until the waters recede and rescue arrives.

A few observations seem due:

1. The Red Cross and federal and state governments have begun a careful, almost too cautious response (in our opinion) to the disaster. Lives are on the line. Time is of the essence. There is almost a surreal, post-modern circumspection in our top-down coordinated relief efforts here in the early 21st Century. No doubt that in due course the relief effort will be magnificent, perhaps even historic in terms of numbers of MREs served, people sheltered, checks written. But when lives are on the line, we prefer the response of southern sports-fishermen who, even before the winds of Katrina had abated, were in their small boats and plying the flooded neighborhood streets, looking for (and finding) terrified victims to rescue. While on TV screens government disaster officials were wringing their hands and talking of the need to first protect the emergency responders, individual citizens were bravely saving lives.

This is not to denigrate FEMA, or the National Guard, or any other agency. Individual actions can count for only so much. We just wish there was just a bit more "cowboy" in the rank-and-file beneath the Commander and Chief. In desperate times we need as many heroes as can rise to the occasion.

2. While comparisons to the December 26, 2004 tsunami can easily come to mind, perhaps we should refrain from making that analogy. The disaster is still too fresh in the minds of the world, and there is a difference between the events that is critical.

The tsunami gave no advance warning. It was realized at least as early as Saturday that Hurricane Katrina was growing into a monster and was headed for the gulf coast. Mandatory evacuation orders had been given. Loss of life is a tragedy under either circumstance, but it was unnecessary on the Gulf Coast. Even one death is too many, but somewhere between 280,000 and 450,000 Indian Ocean coastal residents were killed in a matter of minutes (we doubt there will ever be a clear accounting of the number). In Hurricane Katrina, the loss will probably be over 100, perhaps more, but that is a far cry from the losses in Indonesia and India, etc.

3. Katrina will be an ongoing tragedy written in the lives of millions. The nation's unemployment rate just rose by a significant percentage. The nation's homeless population just rose by numbers that will stagger our minds, once an inventory can be finished. Replacement costs of infrastructure will be massive. Insurance losses stunning.

There may well be a voluntary desire for many to relocate elsewhere, anywhere except near the ocean. Possible is that the government will try to prevent homeowners, or perhaps landowners is the better term now, from rebuilding in these hurricane prone areas. While it is easy today to understand the logic of those who would forbid reconstruction, it is harder still to see how one can justify wholesale violations of property rights, people whose property rights have already been violated by Mother Nature.

The economic rip tide from Katrina will ripple through the nation. There is very little upside to this. Millions are going to need assistance, and they should get it from all of us. They are our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and friends, and they are in dire need.

Contribute what you can afford to disaster relief. A dollar spent now can help save and rebuild lives. Be ready later to contribute more. Be compassionate. But for the grace of God a disaster could break upon any area of the country, and devastate any of us.