Katrina class action suit
I was watching the national news (I think it was NBC, and I think it was also last night) and they aired a story about how there is currently a class action lawsuit against the people that were in charge of the pumping stations in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina – citing that if these people had stayed and manned the stations, most, if not all of the disaster, could have been avoided. In other words, these few people should have stayed there, even if it meant they would die, just so property could be spared.
There was no mention (in the report) of the lives that were lost and could have been saved. It seemed like it was purely about property damage – “things” that can be replaced. Maybe not easily, but they can be replaced. Lives cannot. How selfish these people are to look around at what is left of their once flooded homes and declare that the men running the pumping stations should have given their lives so that they would have less of a mess to come home to. I have not seen the lawsuit but the report interpreted it to be blaming the hurricane itself. The damage was not caused by the hurricane – the damage (as we all know now) was caused by the breeches in the levee system, which allowed New Orleans to flood. Regardless of whether or not these people stayed, I doubt the whole area could have been saved by the existing pumping system.
Why must there be people to blame? Why did the group feel compelled to look for pockets of money to ease their pain? Has it not occured to them that other people there are in just as much pain, but dealing with the situation without running out to find someone to sue? Although Katrina is definitely a “natural disaster” I am not sure how to refer to the flooding – result of the “natural disaster?” Either way, these things are not called “natural disasters” for nothing. They are bad. If they were nice, they would be called something else. No need to get all litigious.
Whateva! My shit is gone so ize fickin’ to get all lititigious up in hur.
yes, it is sad that in our history, lives seem to have less value than objects and money on a regular basis.
I say we all go to the Saucer and drink it off :)
It is not about who remained behind to man the pumping station. You best believe it is a political issue in New Orleans. You haven’t had to go through this devastating moment so your comment means very little but it shows a lack of human character. I don’t know how hard you work to have the personal items you want or need to make your life comfortable but I and a many more are not comfortable with the hand me downs that’s being offered. The city is more concerned with saving industries that are capable of economic growth and are not concerned enough about the well being of the citizens. Therefore until you have experienced such devastation or has simply lost everything you own, you should choose your words more carefully. Because what matters to you doesn’t always matter to everyone else.
“It is not about who remained behind to man the pumping station. You best believe it is a political issue in New Orleans.”
The issue of New Orleans politics is a whole other subject, and up to the citizens of New Orleans who vote for the leaders of their city. Don’t like who is in office? Vote!
“You haven’t had to go through this devastating moment so your comment means very little but it shows a lack of human character.”
Lack of human character? Pardon? The whole point of my writing about the class action suit was to draw attention to the fact that it made no mention of the LIVES THAT WERE LOST. Like I said – things can be replaced, lives cannot. I have not had to go through anything like hurricane Katrina, but then again, most people have not. Just because someone has not had this experience does not mean they don’t know what is of important here – saving human lives.
“I don’t know how hard you work to have the personal items you want or need to make your life comfortable but I and a many more are not comfortable with the hand me downs that’s being offered.”
I work very hard, thank you. As I sit here and type from my USED loveseat, with my feet propped up on my GARAGE SALE coffee table, I know what hard work is and I am very familiar with having “hard times”. Many people go through periods where things are rough, but you get through them, and come out the other side a better person.
“The city is more concerned with saving industries that are capable of economic growth and are not concerned enough about the well being of the citizens.”
And doesn’t “well being of the citizens” include being alive? Doesn’t that also include having a job? And for there to be jobs, wouldn’t it make sense that there have to be businesses to hire people? Economic growth = JOBS!
“Therefore until you have experienced such devastation or has simply lost everything you own, you should choose your words more carefully. Because what matters to you doesn’t always matter to everyone else.”
The only thing I can gather from your comment is that “things” matter more to you than human lives. If that was not the point you were trying to make, then I am not sure what your point is. Last time I checked, houses could be rebuilt and other material goods could be replaced, but no amount of money can bring the dead back to life.
Lets say that the damage was caused by the levee breech. a levee system our federal government KNEW would not withstand more than a cat 3 storm, Then, to find the levee was faulty. It was a preventable disaster, and while our government wages wars for oil. they cannot pay the money to maintain its own infrastructure. while our government cuts corners in order to give tax breaks to large corporations and in the NO area, it would be chemical and oil refineries. Meanwhile WE have not lost just our things, but our lives and our friends and our community and our culture. Just because the federal government wasn’t interested in upgrading a levee system that protected one of the most historical cities in our country. And then after the disaster was slow to respond to the needs of those that were left. Let me remind you that we the people had 24 hr. notice to evacuate. So to be insensitive and say they chose to stay, so it is somehow their fault they suffered, shows your lack of insight to this problem.
Lawyers are people too, and everyone needs to get on with their lives and find work. The blame game is a fine US Tradition, and should not be ignored now.
I’m not familiar with the pump operator’s plight, but I’m sure FEMA could be included in almost any litigation regarding Katrina victims.
The fact that New Orleans is pretty much under sea level, and surrounded by water should have led most to evacuate. For those that could not and were not in control of their destiny, my heart goes out. For those that chose not to evacuate and wanted to ride the storm out, or stay to protect their valuables I’m a bit perplexed.
I’m thinking this was a learning experience for all, and I believe the worst storm in US history. Hopefully something will be gained from the terrible losses and we will all be ready for the next hurricane season which starts in about 6 months.