Refugees being relocated

[OkieMan]

Gentlemen,

I do not want to overload us on the Hurricane Katrina ordeal, but it does affect all of us in one way or the other.  So, I am just curious about the refugees and where they are being relocated.  Here in Oklahoma, we already have several thousand. I know Texas has probably the largest amount in the Houston and San Antonio areas.  If you have the time, could some of you other guys across the country comment on what you are aware of (especially in your hometown or state areas)?  I know that our hearts go out to these people, but it is also very interesting from another aspect.  I would bet that many of these same refugees will decide to go back to the New Orleans or Biloxi areas.  However, I will be very curious to find out over the next weeks and months ahead about the folks who decided to just relocate somewhere permanently.  I could be wrong, but I can't think of any other natural disaster in the United States (at least not in modern times), when it would cause thousands of people to just relocate far away from their original homes-- with one exception.  Back in the 30's, many of the Okies (including many of my relatives) relocated to places like California because of the depression, and in Western Oklahoma, the "Dust Bowl" effect.  Crops were wiped out by the massive drought; and that was on top of the terrible depression that had been caused by the stock market crash of 1929.  By the way, when John Steinbeck wrote the "Grapes of Wrath", he really got it wrong when the Okies he wrote about (the Joad family) were supposed to be in the Dust Bowl, but they were lving in Sallisaw (if I remember correctly).  That is in Eastern Oklahoma, and almost into Arkansas.  The Tulsa area(where I live) is not very far from there.  At any rate, Eastern Oklahoma is not anything like that. Even though many of our lakes are man-made, and were not build until much later; we were somewhat dry, but never part of the "Dust Bowl".  That was further west.  But, to get back to my point, that is the only other disaster that I can recall that caused that kind of mass migration from one area to the other.  Tell me what you think.

                                     OkieMan

[wizard]

... in response to Refugees being relocated, posted by OkieMan on Sep 4, 2005

It's done... At least for the next 2-3 years...

The NOLA police department furlowed all officers yesterday, giving them 3 months salary and telling them to relocate and find another job...

By the time NOLA is rebuilt, I doubt many of the survivors of Katrina will want to go back... Cajuns & Creoles are a hardy breed, but given the chance to relocate with a fresh start will be enticing...

There's an old joke about NOLA... Unless you make beds, cook, clean or tap dance, it's hard to make a living...

I would also think that serious discussion is being had on the viability of rebuilding all the residential areas of NOLA... Not in a known flood zone... I can see everything south of I-10 being rebuilt... The CBD, Garden District, ship yards, casinos and the French Quarter, but all the residential areas north of I-10 will likely be relocated above sea level...

[wizard]

... in response to Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

"The NOLA police department furlowed all officers yesterday, giving them 3 months salary and telling them to relocate and find another job... "

Well, that's what the media was saying... Aren't we supposed to believe whatever the talking heads say??? That little tidbit can from Fox News...

It isn't so, the NOLA PD is still on the job...

[Pete E]

... in response to Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

The Cajuns were leaving another bad situation when they came too New Orleans.Maybe they are not so hard headed as we might think.When the going gets tough the smart split.Well,that could pose a problem for some of them.

Pete

[OkieMan]

... in response to Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

Wizard,

Thanks for your insight.  Since your profile does not say, could you let us know if you are a native of New Orleans?  You seem to have personal knowledge of that area.  At any rate, thanks for your comments.

                             OkieMan

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by OkieMan on Sep 5, 2005

[This message has been edited by wizard]

I lived in NOLA for a number of years, but moved away from there 3 years ago... NOLA is a paradox wrapped in an enigma... The history, culture, food, entertainment and of course the night life all make the entire region a tourist haven... Couple that with abject poverty, poor infrastructure, corrupt governemnt, the worst school system in the country and what do you have, yep, New Orleans...

All of Louisiana marches to the beat of a different drummer... Governed by Napoleonic law, Louisiana and her inhabitants hold tightly to their historic culture while trying to integrate into mainstream America... They don't do a very good job of it... If it weren't for NOLA being a tourist mecca, it would be just another dot on the map...

I am saddened to see what has happened to the region... Not only NOLA, but Gulfport, Mobile, Biloxi and points farther north... The loss of life will likely grow into the thousands... The economic loss to the region will likely cause most people to relocate and attempt to rebuild their lives elsewhere...

Aside from the toll on human life and infrastructure, imagine that this happened to your home town... Every place that you ever went, everything you ever did, every resturant you ever ate at, every place you ever worked, every person you ever knew, just ceased to exist on one fateful Monday morning... Hard to fathom...

[Edge]

... in response to Re: Re: Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

I was about to make my first trip to New Orleans in a month.  The annual IEEE PES T&D (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers -Power Engineering Society - Transmission and Distribution) show was going to be held there this year.  It is the biggest show for our industry every year and this year it was going to held there.  They sent out a notice last Friday that it is postponed until Spring 2006 and they still want to hold it in New Orleans.  What are the odds that the "show will still go on" next Spring?

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

Wizard,

Thanks again for sharing more of your story and insight.  I have visited New Orleans a couple of times.  It was never my cup of tea, but I do realize that for many years it has been a srategic city, concerning location and culture.  The ports are very important to our country as well.  I pray that the entire Gulf region will be rebuilt-- but only better.  Kind of like the 6 Million Dollar Man, back in the '70s.  Maybe New Orleans will be the New Bionic City! ha  I don't mean to make light of their problems; but I do hope that area is built back and made safer.

                                OkieMan

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

My brother in law was a top level guy in a major US corporartion.About 20 years ago they were thinking of building a large facility in New Orleans that would employ many people.They were told they would need to bribe some people to get it approved.They checked in to it,decided they would have too much grief if they didn't,if they did they were commiting personal felonies.So they Passed on New Orleans.
Eddie Debartollo should have done the same a little ways north.Got his ass in a world of trouble and wound up losing the 49 ers over it.
Sounds like Latino land to me.

Pete

[Hoda]

... in response to Stick a fork on NOLA... , posted by wizard on Sep 5, 2005

to withstand Mother Nature's Category 5 Hurricane? Seems like Mother Nature went "under" the barrier & eroded the base. My Grandfather used to have his own views on Man's technology, he used to say "whatever man can "make"....Mother Nature can "break"

Let's see what lesson is learned from this tragedy

[Pete E]

... in response to Can Man build a levee and/or sea wall......, posted by Hoda on Sep 5, 2005

If they ever get the 28 ft storm surge they speak of it would be hard to ever build adequately for that.Hugely expensive and it STILL might not work.I think our poster here is right.Save some historic areas,relocate the housing,let the sea take back its own.
Confucius say man with finger in dike can't do anything else.

Pete

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Unsinkable ships,unbreachable levies, posted by Pete E on Sep 5, 2005

My "Confucius Say" corollary:

Beware of man with splinter in hand...

May have wooden dick!

[Onephd]

... in response to Can Man build a levee and/or sea wall......, posted by Hoda on Sep 5, 2005

They mentioned a study conducted a few years ago that suggested that the levees could be improved to withstand CAT. 5 Hurricanes.  The cast was 16 Billion I believe.  It sounds like a lot, but think about how much it will cost to rebuild.

[pablo]

... in response to Re: Can Man build a levee and/or sea wal..., posted by Onephd on Sep 5, 2005


It seems silly to me to build and live anywhere along coastlines that is below sea level.  If New Orleans is rebuilt we could learn much from the Dutch model.

http://metonym.mydd.com/story/2005/9/1/202720/0815

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oosterscheldekering

[CelticUrge]

... in response to Re: Re: Can Man build a levee and/or sea..., posted by pablo on Sep 5, 2005

"It seems silly to me to build and live anywhere along coastlines that is below sea level."

I would take that one step further. I think it's foolish to build on any barrier island or beachfront property. Call me jaded. Grew up in south Florida and have been through many hurricanes in FL and other states I just happened to be in at the time of a storm hitting. The human history is full of examples of where we are convinced that we can tame and defeat natural forces and events.

The Dutch have taken this to quite a refined endeavor.