Hurricane Katrina - Too little, too late from US government

THE frightening thing about the catastrophe of New Orleans is that the world’s only super power cannot cope.

In the wake of possibly the worst natural disaster in US history, America is struggling to come to grips with the devastation after hurricane Katrina swamped the city, claiming thousands of lives.

In a calamity of biblical proportions, the question that refuses to go away is why the administration of President George W Bush responded so inadequately to a disaster that was waiting to happen.

Could the fact that the population of New Orleans is predominantly both black and poor explain why the city’s anti-flood defences were ill-prepared? The reality is that money earmarked to strengthen dams was diverted elsewhere.

What America and the world are struggling to understand is why, five days after the shocking event, thousands of citizens are still trapped in the watery ruins of this fabled city. With food and water supplies virtually exhausted, the authorities are overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the chaos and desolation across the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Stung by growing criticism of his ineptitude, President Bush has admitted that relief efforts have been inadequate. Before touring the devastated region, he conceded that while a lot of people had been working hard, the results were not acceptable.

Many would say his own input was equally unacceptable. The paltry response of federal government to this grave emergency has triggered a ground-swell of anger and the finger of blame is now pointing squarely at the president. People are outraged, and rightly so, that large elements of the national guard, the force created to deal with such a national crisis, are thousands of miles away in Iraq fighting a war increasingly unpopular in the jaundiced eyes of Americans.

Echoing what many are thinking, Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagan demanded that reinforcements, troops, and thousands of relief buses be sent to the area.

In forthright terms, he asked why President Bush had failed to co-ordinate an effective relief operation for the city.

Recalling that $8 billion had gone to Iraq and that, in the aftermath of September 11, the president was given unprecedented powers, Mr Nagan said the Bush regime should: “Get off their asses and do something to fix the biggest disaster in the history of the United States.”

With 80% of New Orleans under water, the mayor has ordered a total evacuation and warns it will be months before people can return to their homes. With the level of desperation continuing to rise, thousands are still trapped, literally fighting for their lives in unsanitary and dangerous conditions as dead bodies, raw sewage and deadly chemicals mingle in the flood waters.

Thankfully, some Irish people are safe but worries persist about others who have yet to contact their families at home.

Ironically, the global super power could be forced to appeal for international assistance to tackle this crisis. The ultimate irony would see President Bush calling in the expertise of the United Nations, an organisation his regime is seeking to undermine, to bail out America.

As police struggle to control lawlessness on the streets, fear is spreading among the citizenry. Adding to the chaos, explosions, gunfire, gang warfare, rape and looting are reported to be widespread.

Long after the flood waters recede, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will leave deep social, political and economic scars in a community that feels it has been abandoned.