In America, folks like to blame others for their own misfortunes and lack of common sense, period.

I liked how the doors on the subway in Munich and Vienna quickly slam shut. And I also remember thinking "If this was America, some person would have sued for the doors closing too abruptly and not having warning labels". Their coffee cups also don't have "Contents may be hot"

Even the drunks, handicapped and elderly don't get caught in the U-bahn or S-bahn doors! It's so shocking to stay in Munich for months, then fly back to Atlanta and its airport subway. It takes forever for the flashing red lights, verbal warnings, etc before the doors close.

Whatever. Like I said before, the Federal Govt. (Army Corps of Engineers) promised the residence of South Louisiana two things 1) that the original levees were strong enough to withstand a Cat. 3 hurricane like Betsy and 2) that the levees would be rebuilt to pre-hurricane Katrina strength by last year's hurricane season. It hasn't happened.

By landfall, Katrina was downgraded to a Cat. 2. The levees should have held according to the Govt's standards.

Today, you are seeing levee breaches in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois all along the Mississippi. Must be those idiot residents' fault for living in a city so close to the river.

The only idiots are those who live in a flood prone area with no flood insurance. ASSURING that the taxpayers will bail (sp) them out.

Glad you asked, CNN actually asked a few mayors that in the flood area "have they worried about levy construction"..they said "hasn't crossed our minds, we'll look at that after the fact"...
Don't see them crying for help yet, they realized they lived in a flood zone...that oh by the way did the same thing 15 years ago. Hmm wonder why engineers can't hold back mother nature.....sure you don't see "sue the govt" happening in China right now

Cat 2??

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/...her/index.html

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/au...hurr-a30.shtml

__________________

An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

good call.

__________________

An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I'm sorry, Cat 3. http://www.katrina.noaa.gov/ Still, it should have held.

At least reference the source that other sources reference. NOAA.

As far as insurance, I have been hearing reports all day long about people in Iowa who live miles from the river, but still suffered flood damage, being told by their insurance carrier that they were not in a flood zone and did not need flood insurance. The same thing happened to citizens of parts of South Louisiana and Mississippi. The flood maps are outdated and have not been changed since the 1960's.

The citizens of China suing China for the shoddy construction of the collapsed builings? I know you are not comparing the U.S. with Communist China?

Back to the topic, people in NO should be planning TODAY where they will go if they are told a Hurricane is coming...but sadly...I bet they aren't.

__________________

An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

China is changing so fast. I have a friend who just got back from a three year assignment in Shenyang. Nice place. The old is being torn down and replaced with the new at a staggering rate.

A flood zone is sometimes just common sense. Sometimes it's not. I live on top of a mountain and they STILL required a flood survey! I told them they were INSANE, but the rules are the rules.