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| New Orleans myths: The numbers tell a different story |
| 2005-09-07 |
| Excellent article -- really points out the 7 myths that the media was attempting to get us to believe EFL But the real human story of this tragedy will play out in the months ahead: the huge effort to deal with so many displaced persons (many far from their original homes), and so many people out of work, is just beginning. This is a much larger story and much more significant than the 48 lost hours in evacuating the Super Dome, where perhaps 3% of those affected by the storm and its aftermath were temporarily housed. But the pictures and stories of the work ahead will not be as dramatic as those of this past week. Cleanup and rebuilding never is. The highest network and cable TV ratings have already occurred for this story. And the future story does not offer the media as much low hanging fruit in their systematic effort to turn this into their conventional story line – that Bush is at fault. Some of the coverage and the charges that have been made this week are flat out wrong, or grossly misleading, and deserve attention. Reality #1: A very high percentage of the population of New Orleans and surrounding low lying areas were successfully evacuated before the hurricane hit. An article in 2002 in the New Orleans Times-Picayune explored the hurricane-induced flooding scenario and estimated that 200,000 residents of the city would be stranded by such an event. A Houston Chronicle article from 2001 estimated that 250,000 residents would be stranded. That is over 40% of the population of the city, which stood at 484,000 in 2000. A recent poll of New Orleans residents revealed that an even higher percentage, 60%, would remain in the city even if ordered to evacuate with a major storm on the way. The Mayor New Orleans, Ray Nagin, estimated that at least 80% of his city's residents were out before the hurricane hit Monday. In retrospect, this must be considered a major positive achievement. How did it happen? Though you won't hear this on NBC, CBS or CNN, the National Hurricane Center urged President Bush to request that the Governor of Louisiana and Mayor of New Orleans order a complete evacuation of New Orleans. Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin agreed, and this order was given over the weekend, two days before the hurricane hit. All day Saturday and Sunday, as the TV news networks were in the midst of their all Katrina, all the time coverage, the pictures were of bumper to bumper traffic heading out of town in all directions. If 80% of New Orleans got out before disaster hit, instead of 40% or 60%, that is an additional 100,000 to 200,000 residents who were spared the worst of this week's trauma. For this the President deserves credit, which he will not receive. Remember that the focus all week has been on the slow response to assist the 20% who did not get out. There is plenty to criticize in what happened this week for the 20% left behind, but it does not diminish the achievement in getting 80% of the residents of the city to safety before the storm hit. There more just like this |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #3 What about Biloxie and Gulfport and the rest of the MS coast? o Republican-controlled local government. Can't let the 'pubs get any publicity for handling their areas well. o More damage; less accessible. o Local government may not let the vultures in. o Fewer strip clubs; less draw for reporters. o Less booze; less draw for reporters. o Fewer hookers; less draw for reporters. o Everyone in the world has heard of New Orleans. Far fewer have heard of Biloxi. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-09-07 21:25 |
| #2 The thing that really twists my knickers is that the MSM have turned this into all NO all the time. NO wasn't even the hardest hit city. What about Biloxie and Gulfport and the rest of the MS coast? NO is the place that the MSM can use to hit at Bush (wrongly) though so that's all you hear about. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2005-09-07 18:19 |
| #1 I just saw the Lt. General the Feds put in charge on Fox. Have to say I was fairly impressed; he seems to be a businesslike, non-political type. Which IMAO is exactly what is called for. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2005-09-07 15:04 |