Grumpy old man opinion here. TL:DR You live in the path of a hurricane/flood, that’s YOUR problem, not mine.
It’s hurricane season, and the BS is off with a roar…
Dorian has come through the Caribbean like a huge broom, sweeping devastation left in its path. You need to remember the highest point in the Abacos and Bahamas is around 40 feet above sea level, but most of the inhabitants live around 5 feet about sea level. The destruction was/is horrendous, and the loss of life will never be accurately counted, but I’d guess well over 200.
BUT, even while the news programs play the sob stories, and talk about the damage, tears in their eyes, as the ‘victims’ stand there in front of the camera, stained wife-beater T-shirt proudly displayed, or torn dress in tatters, tears in their eyes wondering how such a thing could happen. And they beg for help. And more help, and the chilluns. The starving chilluns, but you never see those children on TV, because they either don’t belong to the people, or are somewhere else. And don’t get me started on the looters…
You ever notice you never see this kind of coverage out of Guam, Taiwan, Okinawa, or Japan? Those of you who have been there know why. They don’t have ‘pretty’ buildings and houses. They have concrete buildings and homes built to withstand both typhoons AND earthquakes. They’re ugly. They have steel shutters. They have emergency supplies in place. They KNOW they are on their own until after the emergency passes… They deal with it. And the military/LEO’s/Fire/Rescue don’t go rescue stupid people in the middle of the storms either…
But what many forget is the Bahamas is a sovereign country, tied to England, NOT a part of the USA. If they really want help, go to the drug lords that have used the Bahamas for generations as a drug haven and stop on the way to the US for untold billions of dollars of drugs. Or go to those billionaires with homes there, or England. WE don’t owe them anything other than human kindness. The military will fly in supplies, out of US stocks, burning hundreds of flight hours on airframes already over timed, and overdue for maintenance, because that is what our military does without reimbursement, ever…
Puerto Rico IS a US territory, and now, a year later, their infrastructure is STILL in tatters because of the inherent corruption there, and millions of dollars in aid has ‘disappeared’… Probably into some politician’s pocket. But, WE are to blame, because we didn’t do everything for them.
Everyone knows there are hurricanes, they happen every year, and people that lived through them, will turn right around and go back to that area and rebuild. Another hurricane, and then the Governor declares the place an emergency, FEMA swoops in and hands out free goodies, and everybody gets free stuff. Except it’s not free…
You know who pays for all this free stuff and rebuilding going on in known flood areas and hurricane alleys? WE do. We cough up in taxpayer dollars and increased insurance premiums for these idiots who get reimbursed time after time. Just like the towns and places that flood on the Mississippi and other rivers every year, and go right back and rebuild IN THE SAME SPOT. WE PAY THE PRICE.
Then they bitch about how long it takes to get the money, how little money they got, yada, yada, yada. It’s probably a good thing I’m not in charge, because I would pay off ONCE, if you go back, any further losses are on you.
Same with the idjits that refuse to leave in the path of (insert disaster here), then scream for rescue, putting first responders, LEOs, military, et al in harm’s way trying to save their dumb asses. I would tell them, “We’ll be there when it is safe for the responders to come to your location. Not before. Until then, you’re on your own. You made your bed, enjoy laying in it.”
The other thing that pisses me off is the BS from the left that ‘hurricanes are man caused disasters’! Really? Do you people NOT have a grip on reality? Do you not understand history, and documentation? Or is it that since you haven’t see it with your own lying eyes, then you get to decide what is true? Trying to view EVERYTHING through the lens of politics is not only stupid, it’s going to get people killed. But I don’t think they care. They will be safe in their guarded enclaves, well away from the peons.
I know this isn’t politically correct, but I’ve never claimed to be. I’ve flown Hurrivacs, Medivacs, and hundreds of hours of searches over the years, in addition to riding out a couple of typhoons because we were deployed there. Never once gotten a word of thanks from any of the people, other than our own bosses. Same for folks I’ve talked to that flew in supplies and had boots on the ground. No thanks, just complaints, other than one village above Fukushima that was VERY appreciative of HSM-51’s support. I did over 20 years in the Navy, and I damn sure don’t live on a coast. I know better. Yes, I live at the start of tornado alley, and I pay over $2000/yr for that insurance, I PAY IT, not anybody else.
As far as I’m concerned, if you choose to live in the path of a hurricane/flood, that’s YOUR problem, not mine. Especially if you aren’t prepared, aren’t willing to leave if told, and especially if you put people in harm’s way to rescue you.
Kicking the soapbox back in the corner.
