Transportation Issues in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
By: Lance Winslow
Hurricane Katrina took its tool on our Gulf Coast indeed, no doubt about it. Many people have perished, New Orleans is underwater and the rest of the Gulf Coast looks more like the shores of Indonesia after the Tsunami. Getting back to normal for the region will take years for sure. But the rest of the nation is also at a crisis as we have lost one of our major arteries; Interstate 10. This freeway is a huge part of our nation’s distribution system in the United States, trusty I-10. In the winter it is the most traveled freeway to move stuff you start taking out 5 mile sections, bridges and causeways? And you have the makings for an economic crisis for all the Southern States from California to Florida. For the local region getting in relief and supplies to rebuild will be challenged beyond belief. For Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Pan handle of Florida; see ya economy and excess increased costs on everything, fuel is already up. We have refining capacity out, Gulf of Mexico energy assets out and out going Chairman Greenspan was already warning on the housing issues, bubbles, top outs, foreclosures and insurance increases and pay outs. You think international terrorism is bad? That is a drop in the bucket.
We have the makings here of an economic crisis which can drive us into an early and unwanted downturn in our business cycle followed by an energy crisis like that in the mid 70’s. As businesses cannot deliver goods to markets we will have issues on other major highways like I-20, I-40, I-70 with bottlenecks. Rail cannot pick up the slack; it is out too. Many Airports closed which may open first but it will be weeks until surface transportation is navigatable and until folks have water supplies, ice, fuel, sewage systems back on line, hospitals. We have some big issues indeed. Not to mention the future Hurricane strikes and probabilities for more in the next couple of months. We need some powerful, strength and honor type leadership and NOW at all levels of government and we need local heroes like you to pitch in and help your fellow man. This thing is going to get worse before it gets better. Think on this.
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