Barack Obama Fails "Hurricane Katrina" Test - What They Don't Teach in Harvard Policy Seminars

Cure Socialism ^ | November 3, 2012 | Jonathon Moseley

[Paleo Conservative]

USAF tankers carry jet fuel which is basically kerosene. I don’t think the air force is going to let anyone put gasoline in them.

[1_Rain_Drop]

"Hmmm, whatever happened to those billions of dollars worth of FEMA trailers, many of which were never used?"

I'm guessing those trailers are a one time use only. We had FEMA trailers in our area last year. This year a lot of FEMA trailers could be bought at local auction houses.

Before we had the trailers set up, land had to be cleared. Pipes had to be installed for water & sewer. Electricity connect. It's like building a new home. Sandy people haven't even started anything to have FEMA think about trailers. FEMA hasn't handed out all forms and started the process of elimination as to who is eligible for any help. Should take about two to three months.

[Moseley]

How about simply restoring electrical power and removing price controls?

That is an OUTCOME, not a plan. Unfortunatel, that is too commo among conservatives especially libertarians: To confuse an end result with a plan for getting there.

They have been working on restoring electrical power for a week. The problem is HOW when crews don't have the gas to get around the city and paths are clogged, more than usual in tha area, and there is confusion.

Do you imagine utility repair crews are simply sitting by the side of the road and NOT restoring power while they watch the world go by?

I do believe that the government needs to stay out of the private sector and not interfere with business.

But emergencies are fndamentally different. What do you think military air craft and resources are for? When there is a disruption of the normal markets from a natural disaster or from war, the government is perfectly appropriate in providing assistance. The government should not be an on-going part of the business world. But it should provide assistance in emergencies.

WHen your house is on fire you COULD go out in the sreet and begin bargaining with people in your neighborhood to pay them to help you put out the fire. But having a pre-existing fire department trained and equipped is more efficient and effective -- even in economic terms -- than trying to come up with your own ad hoc team to put the fire out in your house.

That's especially true where time is important. The ability of the market place to eventually respond is not the same as the losses that will occur without quick action. in New Jersey, temperatures are dropping and people don't have power.

[Moseley]

Why use aircraft when we have these large flat things called Interstate highways that tanker trucks drive on (to paraphrase Obama)?

When you have a major disaster and disruption,one of the biggest problems is keeping the roads clear and moving, especially when vehicles are running out of fuel.

During Snow-mageddon in January 2011, it took me 7 hours to drive about 15 miles from Old Town Alexandria to Fairfax, Virginia. It wasn't for lack of roads, but because of all the cars that ran out of gas blocking the roads or were abandoned by their drivers.

Ports that tanker ships dock at?

Ships that would normally be delivering crude oil or gasoline to New York had to EVACUATE THE "AREA" (pretty much the entire Western Atlantic) to avoid being destroyed in the hurricane. So normal shipping schedules are disrupted, the ships were as far away from the East Seabord as they could dash, and it takes time for them to come back.

Then at least half a dozen refineries were shut down in the North East. So the refineries are not making gasoline.

Were the fuel terminals destroyed by Sandy?

Almost certainly yes. Not beyond repair. But they must be carefully inspected and certified safe before any insurance company is going to allow an insured tanker to pull up to a terminal that was just clobbered by a hurricane.