Subj : Re: Um...no comment?
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : Nick
Date : Fri Sep 02 2005 16:37:00

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

Trouble wrote:

> Nick wrote:
> 
>> Here is a story that I find most disturbing because it will affect
>> me both personally and long term. 
> 
>> Overnight Baton Rouge Becomes Largest City in Louisiana
> 
> I immediately wonder if all the city's power, water, and sewage/waste
> processing capacity can withstand doubling the demands put upon them 
> overnight? 

That is extremely doubtful.

>> In a day, this city has become the largest in Louisiana, and grim
>> local officials here predicted it would double in size, to about
>> 800,000, permanently. 
> 
> If they're counting nearby localities that will have to take overflow
> they're probably right.
>  
>> There were reports of attempted carjackings at 24-hour gas stations.
>> Authorities decided to impose a 10 p.m. cutoff for gas sales.
> 
> I have to wonder if these people want the cars for shelter, or to go 
> somewhere where they have family? There ought to be a better way to 
> alleviate these problems.
> 
> If they just want the car well that is a police problem. 
> 
>> Sheriff's deputies were dispatched as armed guards for grocery
>> warehouses, and police stepped up around-the-clock controls
>> downtown, 
> 
> But when will this people doubling start to effect the lines in local
> grocery stores, will locals run out and stock up on everything just
> to be ahead of any possible shortages, and like Gasoline runs, cause
> shortages by their behavior?

Well, theoretically, the people are being fed in the shelters but I really 
don't know.  The biggest problem with gasoline is that people are filling 
up every damn container they can find thereby creating a gas problem.  
Yes, some places have or will have gas shortages due to pipeline problems 
but we have the refinery RIGHT HERE!  You just have to drive the tanker 
from the refinery to the gas station to fill the pump.

> We have this all the time when snow threatens DC...
> 
> The dilemma gets worse if you take part yourself to protect yourself
> from the "idiots" sort of a prisoners dilemma, there is only enough
> food for everyone if everybody acts rationally.
> 
>> With a new month beginning Thursday, hundreds of the newly homeless
>> and poor crowded up the area's food-stamp offices to start
>> applications. 
> 
> According to the USDA's Food stamp Q&A the average monthly benefit is
> $86 and aren't available for 30 days, if they expedite the benefits 7
> days. 
> 
> Even assuming that's enough to feed them, and maybe unemployment
> benefits can provide them something to live on (if they hadn't
> already maxed out their unemployment benefits since 2000)
> 
> There still might not be enough shelters, hotels, motels, and YMCAs
> to house them all, and again, power, water, sewage.

Every school gymnasium and most churches and parks are also housing 
people.

>> In addition, others are coming to town looking for opportunity.
>> "People are showing up with suitcases and suitcases of cash,
>> offering to buy houses and real estate on the spot," said Walker,
>> who is also a real estate broker. 
> 
> I really regret the bubble these 'opportunists' are going to cause.
> 
> And what's worse, like the food and gas shortages, the people who
> don't sell will be the ones affected.
> 
> Its reprehensible to combine human greed with human tragedy...
> 
> I mean if I had suitcases full of cash, the last thing I'd be
> thinking walking into a disaster relief area is "lets try and make
> some money" 
> 

I wonder if I should sell my house...

.