Gustav: Irrational Panic?

See the previous entry today on (probable) hurricane Gustav. Did you doubt me?  Never do that.

Do you realize that FEMA is "front loading" resources (SPENDING MONEY) to prepare for a hurricane which we are not even sure will hit the U.S. 

Yes, did you realize that Gustav may NOT hit the U.S. at all? Hurricane Dean (I think it was)  MISSED the U.S. altogether last year, after we spent MILLIONS "preparing for it.

HOW did we survive hurricanes all of those years where we did not being MAJOR preparations until the track of the hurricane was fairly well defned.  Yes, that approach FAILED with Katrina, partially because it ALTERED COURSE late and partially because we were dealing with Louisiana, which FAILED (under Democratic rule in the state and the city of New Orleans) to respoind when the threat became apparent.  However, are we goingt o evacuate the ENTIRE GULF COAST every time a hurricane is a possible threat?  We seem to be headed in that directioin, but it is STUPID.  Remember how many many DIED in trying to EVACUATED HOUSTON for hurricane Rita?

Yes, Gustav MIGHT hit the Yuchatan (Cancun area).  It MIGHT not hit the U.S. at all.  The probabilities seem to be that Gustav will go into the Gulf of Mexico, and become a fairly major hurricane.  But we have survived LOTS of hurricanes like Gustav without major problems. 

Is the media trying to turn us all into SCARED RABBITS. Short answer:  YES.

Even Fox News (as I continue to say:  part of the PROBLEM and NOT part of the solution--mostly not worth watching any more than the rest of the mainstream media), or maybe I should leave out the "even" because Fox News HYPES as much or more than any of them, is talking non-stoip about how the Republican Convention may be dramatically changed (days even cancelled) because of Gustav. THIS IS ALL STUPID SEPCULATION WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHETHER GUSTAV IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE U.S.

I heard Chris Wallace talk about how BAD it would be for Republicans to be talking politics when people are "HURTING".  Wallace is a intellecutally vapid, sanctimonious hypocrite.  People are ALWAYS hurting.  They hurt in teh Great Depression (Roosevelt still had conventions).  They hurt in Vietnam.  They hurt in Iraq.  42,000 DIE every single year in TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.  That is about 12 per DAY.  There are LIKELY to be more people "hurting" on the highways during the Republican Convention, than there are because of Gustav.

Sure, it is POSSIBLE Gustav will turn into one monster of a hurricane affecting this country in a major way.  But it is UNLIKELY.  At this point, it is all SPECULATION.

I can't tell you how stupid this overhype is.  I don't think it is healthy--causing people to be "prepared".  I think it is vastly unealthy--continuing to advance an idea that politicians MUST "wring their nands" and exude "concern" over ever "hurting" American, or poetntillay huring American, or be trashed.  Have we REALLY gone that far off of the deep ened? 

I am afraid maybe so.  In the meantime, you shoudl go to the national hurricane center website to get FACTS about storms (and even they are human, and inclined to a certain amount of scare, which deos give them attention, but MUCH better than the "news").  Watching or paying any attention to the media is a MISTAKE.

P.S.  I am perfectly aware that Gustav is likely to make it into the Gulf of Mexico, even if it passes over the tip of the Yuchatan Peninsula.  The land there is so flat as to not break up a major storm.  However, a lot depends on how FAR south Gustav goes.  If the computer models--very fallible lately--are just a LITTLE off, Gustav could be more affected, AND it could end up heading for northern Mexico, or as a minor hurricane headed for the Texas coast near Mexico.  If you noticed DEPRESSION on the part of the media around 2 p.m. EDT, it is because Gustav is STILL not a huurican, as winds have stayed steady at 70 mph.  It is still expected to become a hurricane, but my main p9oint remains.  We don't KNOW very much about how strong this storm will be, or where it is going.  To EVACUATE, or spend millions of dollars, ALL along the Gulf Coast based on SPECULATION is INSANE.  Yes, preliminary preparations are indicated.  Panic is stupid, and expensive.  As Houston showed, it can also be FATAL.