Sunday, September 24, 2006
Severe weather blamed for 8 deaths in U.S. Midwest
Recent storms have struck the US midwest and south causing some flooding, leaving people stranded, and even some dying. The Canadian Press (on the CBC website) describes the situation like this:
"High winds, heavy rain and tornadoes pounded parts of the U.S. Midwest and South, leaving at least eight people dead, stranding people in cars, forcing others from their homes and leaving thousands without power."
What struck me in the article was a quote by a fireman who compares the situation to the events of Hurricane Katrina last year. The fireman, Chester Craig, says, "There were vehicles underwater and people were walking around in a daze." Craig's comment is somewhat legitimate. Usually when a major storm strikes, flooding, property damage, and dazed and confused people are part of what might be considered "normal." By "normal" I mean what the general public would agree as a typical result of a major storm.
To compare the storm to Hurricane Katrina seems like he takes the result of the storm out of context. Major floods, heavy rain, major wind damage, and tornadoes happen all over the world. The effects on the affected community are usually upsetting, depressing, and sometimes devastating. Based on pictures broadcast in the news media, it seems that the scene of a weather disaster looks the same - large numbers people in distress, towns, villages, and cities that were once flourshing become a wasteland of sludge.
On the other hand, perhaps the only disaster that this fireman is familiar with is the one caused by Hurricane Katrina.
"High winds, heavy rain and tornadoes pounded parts of the U.S. Midwest and South, leaving at least eight people dead, stranding people in cars, forcing others from their homes and leaving thousands without power."
What struck me in the article was a quote by a fireman who compares the situation to the events of Hurricane Katrina last year. The fireman, Chester Craig, says, "There were vehicles underwater and people were walking around in a daze." Craig's comment is somewhat legitimate. Usually when a major storm strikes, flooding, property damage, and dazed and confused people are part of what might be considered "normal." By "normal" I mean what the general public would agree as a typical result of a major storm.
To compare the storm to Hurricane Katrina seems like he takes the result of the storm out of context. Major floods, heavy rain, major wind damage, and tornadoes happen all over the world. The effects on the affected community are usually upsetting, depressing, and sometimes devastating. Based on pictures broadcast in the news media, it seems that the scene of a weather disaster looks the same - large numbers people in distress, towns, villages, and cities that were once flourshing become a wasteland of sludge.
On the other hand, perhaps the only disaster that this fireman is familiar with is the one caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
The Project
This blog will feature some weekly commentary on natural and technological accidents and disasters over the next 4 months. The commentary is for a MIT 374F at the University of Western Ontario. Feel free to leave comments and enjoy!
