I am just watching a special on the Hamburg flooding in February 1962. Hamburg is one of the biggest cities in Germany. The pictures remind me of a more recent flood New Orleans. But it was handled far different. Helmut Schmidt who was in charge of the cities security forces called for support not only from national forces but also from other countries. He was acting against the constitution in calling the army to help then it was not allowed to use the army for internal problems. The constitution was later changed.
Soldiers were acting without order. Helicopters were flying in storms while no air traffic was allowed. Some pilots almost touched down on roofs because they did not have the equipment to get at the flood victims otherwise. Other than in New Orleans the cold after the flood was a problem and not the heat. The whole country tried to help. The help started in total chaos but active chaos! If I got the numbers right only 315 people died. 14 000 were left for some time in emergency shelters.
Now let us look at the Bush administration: The man did not even allow other countries to help till it was too late (German specialist could have been at New Orleans within 24 hours with specialized equipment). While the President was riding around the site in a whole group of helicopters with secret service and all the same helicopters were needed to supply the people of New Orleans and were not there. I got the image that help was actively withheld out of false pride. But resources that could have been useful were also redirected to the Presidents PR campaign
(the helicopters for the President, staff, reporters and his security people are the worst misuse and did not even get him close to the real site).
Our flood in 62 had one man acting for his people, a man who later became Chancellor. The flood in New Orleans did not even end the career of the man who deserted his people in the hour of need by turning away help that was offered to the city and its inhabitants. Well, you can only be President twice and as he has shown in one of these elections you do not even need a true majority vote of the countries people.
Or did I get anything wrong???
Soldiers were acting without order. Helicopters were flying in storms while no air traffic was allowed. Some pilots almost touched down on roofs because they did not have the equipment to get at the flood victims otherwise. Other than in New Orleans the cold after the flood was a problem and not the heat. The whole country tried to help. The help started in total chaos but active chaos! If I got the numbers right only 315 people died. 14 000 were left for some time in emergency shelters.
Now let us look at the Bush administration: The man did not even allow other countries to help till it was too late (German specialist could have been at New Orleans within 24 hours with specialized equipment). While the President was riding around the site in a whole group of helicopters with secret service and all the same helicopters were needed to supply the people of New Orleans and were not there. I got the image that help was actively withheld out of false pride. But resources that could have been useful were also redirected to the Presidents PR campaign
(the helicopters for the President, staff, reporters and his security people are the worst misuse and did not even get him close to the real site).
Our flood in 62 had one man acting for his people, a man who later became Chancellor. The flood in New Orleans did not even end the career of the man who deserted his people in the hour of need by turning away help that was offered to the city and its inhabitants. Well, you can only be President twice and as he has shown in one of these elections you do not even need a true majority vote of the countries people.
Or did I get anything wrong???
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Hab auch keine Zeit, muss das Abi schaffen.
Yeah, I know. Actually I've watched the original one...It's soo cool! And kinda creepier LOL