The Young Turks

Today I drove home from work gazing at the houses going by, some repaired, some in construction, some still boarded up. Water lines are still visible on some, and if you look at the oak trees you can see there is no lichen on the bottom three feet where the water stood three years ago.

Today, on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall, the first major storm since 2005 threatens Louisiana again, and the citizens of New Orleans are anxiously watching the "cone of uncertainty" that swallows our state in it's ominous white shading. Classes are canceled through Wednesday, contra-flow will begin on Sunday, the city is filling up with National Guardsman and Black-hawk helicopters circle overhead. Buses have been brought in, prisoners have been transfered, and in some driveways SUV's sit with doors open as families load up precious belongings.

With Gustav still on the other side of Hati, it's hard not to wonder if we are over-reacting. The storm, if it hits, will not even be here till Tuesday. It could still veer to Texas or Florida. We won't know much for sure until late Sunday. But the memories of Katrina linger, and no one wants to be caught unprepared. We try to be ready for the worst case scenario while not being overly-panicked. What I haven't heard anyone talk about is what will happen if we see catastrophic flooding again. Will we give up? Will the nation give up on us?

The timing couldn't be any more fun, if it can be called that, as the GOP convention gets ready to kick of in St.Paul. Even if Bill Clinton could only muster a passing mention of the Gulf Coast last week, it will be impossible to ignore when the incumbent party takes the stage, sharing media coverage with yet another storm.