evacuations

[cellio]

Katrina is certainly a tragedy, and I feel really bad for the people who've lost lives and property. My heart goes out to those people. But two things: (1) this is not anything like the tsunami in magnitude, Mr. Mayor, and (2) there are other things going on in the world too and I'd like the news to cover them. (I mean, really, if I were a nefarious government agent itching for some shenanigans, this would be the perfect time.)

anastasiav posed a thought experiment today. Given 12-24 hours' notice that you have to clear out and you have only your current vehicle with which to do it, what would you take? I have sometimes played through the "the house is on fire" scenario, where you maybe grab something on your way out the door, but this is a different scenario.

This isn't the order in which I thought of things, nor is this in full priority order, but I'm trying to group things for easier reading. For purposes of the exercise I'm assuming that my VW Golf is not currently in lemon mode. :-)

The universal "this goes without saying, right?" list: passport, cash, checkbook, cell phone, non-perishable compact food, drinking water, medicine, blankets, a few changes of clothes, toiletries, contents of the "important papers" drawer.

Every bit as essential to me: the cats (duh), some food for them, computer CPU and external hard drive. Yes, if a shelter turned my cats away I'd keep driving, as long as I possibly could. (And by the way, the cats and the external hard drive -- in that order -- are what I'd grab in the event of a fire.)

Thinking practically: contents of the "original work" drawers (research notes, sheet music, etc that aren't on the computer), one good knife, photos of items being left behind (including contents of bookshelves) for the insurance claim and to help with rebuilding,

Sentimental stuff: photo albums (I don't have a lot), the afghan my grandmother (of blessed memory) made for me (doubles as a blanket, too), a few (specific) pieces of jewelry, copies of my band's CDs (one each, I mean, not stockpiles), kiddush cup from our wedding, Shabbat candlesticks from a good friend.

Special and possibly surprising to some: about a dozen specific religious texts, or that entire section of the bookcase if I had room. Books are replacable, but that's not the point. I would do my best to specifically rescue the books containing the (real, not translated) name of God. I would also check with my synagogue and offer to take one torah scroll with me if needed. Yes, I would give my religious community a chunk of my evac space for something that important; it's kind of like tithing, when you think about it.

(Oh, in case you're wondering, Dani has his own car. We'd certainly try to use both. So I haven't factored him into this. This is my list, not our list.)

Unless there's room (which I kind of doubt), my hammer dulcimer didn't make the cut (though I'd grab the bag of hammers; good hammers are really important, and they're small). It's expensive and it would be a shame, but I do know where to get another. Losing the case would be annoying (not commercially available), but in this scenario I'd be doing enough rebuilding of the core parts of my life that this would be noise. (Err. So to speak.)

Sure, I've got lots of other stuff -- but most of it is stuff that could be replaced. It's just stuff. The things I listed go beyond "just stuff".

What are the things that you consider to be beyond "just stuff"?

Comments

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

A minor quibble with:

The loss of life was mostly preventable; most of those who died chose to stay.

As has been pointed out else-net (including Making Light), many people in New Orleans don't have cars. At least according to scyllacat, posting before the storm hit, there was no way to get out if you didn't have a car.

"This morning, I made sure the screens were on the store. Then I tried to make arrangements to leave. All car rentals, airlines, bus lines and the train station are now closed until further notice. They aren't even sure when they will be operating again. It's only after they are all closed that the Mayor orders evacuation -- then he orders incoming roads closed so no one can come get me out."

So, yes, some people who could have left chose to stay, and I agree that they chose their fate. What of the ones who couldn't leave?

[cellio]

So, yes, some people who could have left chose to stay, and I agree that they chose their fate. What of the ones who couldn't leave?

I was appalled when I read that the evacuation plan apparently consisted of "drive your car out". They should have kept the buses and trains running until the end and not worried about fares. I wonder how many people with car space even anticipated the question.

I pity the people who had no chance to leave. I pity the people who could have left and didn't, but it's a different kind of pity -- not for the results but for their stupidity.

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

My thought, as Katrina bore down on the city, ran more like this:

• Pick a city, or several cities (Houston came to mind), far enough to not be in the path of the hurricane, but (potentially) close enough that you wouldn't need to refuel airplanes in NO. Get every plane you can, including cargo. In this situation, to heck with normal safety standards - flying out sitting on the floor in a cargo plane is still safer than staying. Fly 'em in empty, fly 'em out full. Turn over the runways as fast as possible - minimum FAA safety distances. Lather, rinse, repeat until the squall front of the storm closes the airports.
  
  
• Likewise for trains - every rail car in the SE that you can get there in time, roll it into NO, roll it out full.
  
  
• Again likewise for tractor-trailers, buses, rental fleets, etc. Gas up everything that will roll, fill it with people, head for safety.
  

Given the population of the city, you couldn't have gotten everyone in the time available. But every person you could have gotten out would have helped - especially now, as they try to evacuate the stranded amidst the floodwaters.

I wonder, when the counting is all done (potentially years from now), how many of the dead will be blamed for their fate when they couldn't get out? Whether any blame will be laid for an evacuation order [I hesitate to call it a plan] that made no allowance for those without their own transportation?
(Yes, there were shelters in-city, and many (but probably not anywhere near most) of those marooned in the city came to shelter. But, as the tens of thousands in the Superdome could tell you, that's nothing like getting out of town before the storm hit.)