Catastrophe.

This is coolbert.

I hope that Homeland Security is paying close attention to what is occurring in New Orleans, right now, as we speak.

This natural disaster is probably as close as you are going to get to the disaster that would occur if some terrorist group, such as Al Qaeda, was to detonate an atomic weapon in a major U.S. city.

I am SURE there are many lessons to be learned from this natural disaster that would also apply to the disaster created by a man-made nuclear detonation. I would hope that lessons learned are being determined, studied, absorbed, and planned for.

One thing instantaneously clear is that life in a large city [500,000 persons], such as New Orleans, when faced with a disaster of such magnitude, becomes untenable.

The city becomes uninhabitable. Life cannot be sustained any further without monumental action being taken. Monumental action that will months, if not years to implement. In the mean time, evacuation of the city is the only near term answer.

Of course, in the case of New Orleans, the causation of the disaster is the flooding, coupled with wind damage.

In an atomic detonation event, the causation of the disaster would be blast, heat, and residual radiation.

Regardless of the causation, utilities are lost for an indefinite period.

[in the case of flooding, there IS warning. Such as with New Orleans. Authority KNEW the storm was approaching. With a nuclear event, there will probably BE NO warning. This exacerbates the situation. Having responders at readiness will not be possible in the latter case [atomic weapon being used.]]

Utilities that human life depends upon in the modern world. Electricity, natural gas, fresh water, sewage, communications, transport, etc. All lost! Habitation in such an environment is impossible.

Evacuation of the ENTIRE city is the only option until assessments of damage can be made and rebuilding plans formulated.

Evacuating a surviving populace of a major U.S. city is going to be itself a nightmare.

EMP [Electro-Magnetic-Pulse] from a nuclear detonation will render all solid-state vehicle ignitions inoperable. Within a certain radius of an atomic weapon detonation, NO internal combustion powered vehicles WILL WORK! Survivors WILL NOT be able to just jump into their cars and drive out of the city.

Vehicles, presumably buses and large trucks, will have to COME INTO the city to evacuate the populace. This of itself will be extremely difficult, due to the roadways being blocked by downed trees and fallen poles of all sorts, i.e., power, light, telephone, etc. You MAY have TO CUT YOUR WAY INTO THE CITY just to conduct an evacuation.

[as mentioned, in case of a nuclear detonation, in addition to trees and fallen poles, the streets will be clogged with disabled, inoperable vehicles that will have to moved as well for vehicular traffic to make it's way into the city!! How to move all that?? Probably practically impossible!! Rather the people MOVE THEMSELVES using foot power!!]

It can also be expected that certain segments of the populace to be evacuated will pose an additional nightmare for those conducting the evacuation.

Persons best described as having "problems", "issues", or "difficulties".

Street gangs that exist in ALL major American cities will undoubtedly taken advantage of the situation. A total break down of law and order due to the absence of police [in the event of an atomic blast, many "first responders", such as the police, may be killed or wounded. There will be just NOT enough law and order people to go around]. Street gangs do have the numbers, the organization, the weaponry, the physical and mental wherewithal to "take over" large portions of American cities and become the controlling force. All entering their "turf' will have to bend to their will.

In some American big cities, there exist areas where the community is very resistant to governmental authority of any type. Mandatory orders to evacuate WILL only heighten tensions and anger directed at "authority". Especially in the aftermath of an atomic detonation. Emotions will overpower reason. Governmental "officials" in this case will have to act as if they were "walking on eggs" when dealing with such unruly "communities". These WILL NOT be docile folks that obey and do as they are told.

Provisions will have to be made to "deal" with drug addicts of all sorts. Persons NO LONGER to get their "fix". Desperate people, whether they be "crackheads" [cocaine] or "fiends" [heroin] of a sort that will pose significant difficulties for "authority".

Indeed, the whole gamut of "street people" or "homeless" will pose grave problems for "authority". 75 % of such folks are either mentally deranged, alcoholics, or drug addicts. Corralling, immobilizing, sedating, and "securing" such folks will not be easy. Moving them by evacuation is one thing, handling them afterwards is a different matter. A subject for another blog. These folks again, are dangerous to "first responders" in normal circumstances, much less in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

[This being America, also include a category of armed folks. Desperate and wanting THEIR needs attended to right NOW, no matter what!! Normally law-abiding people becoming armed and dangerous given the serious situation. "Treat my family member now, doc, or you are going to get it!!" This does happen. I heard an interview on National Public Radio [NPR] a number of years ago now where a doctor described this exact event. In such a circumstance, the doctor DOES have to comply while someone is holding a gun to his head!!]

Other classes of people will also pose a problem for those implementing evacuation. NOT "difficult" or unruly or criminal minded people, but folks with problems that are no fault of their own. Among these people will be found:

Grossly obese persons.

[Years ago now, there was a famous incident where two para-medics attempted to manhandle a four hundred pound woman down eighteen flights of stairs to a waiting ambulance. In two hours, the paramedics were able to move this woman down ONE flight of stairs, all the while being harassed by an unruly and most vociferous group of family members!! The woman died!!]

Institutionalized persons, such as found in nursing homes, or in mental institutions

Handicapped persons, such as the wheelchair bound, paraplegics, quadriplegic, and the retarded.

Sick and infirm persons as found in intensive care units [ICU's] of hospitals.

There also seems to be a difficulty that arises when people WANT to go back INTO the disaster area. This may sound strange, but this seems to be a tendency folks have when the status of their family or possessions or dwelling is in question. People WANT to know WHAT has happened. There seems to be a strong desire for information. Danger does not deter. NOR do admonitions from authorities. People going INTO a disaster area create a further problem for the authorities.

Persons being evacuated FROM a disaster must also be decontaminated.

This is true in New Orleans right now.

Would be the case if an atomic event occurred.

Contamination in each case is different, but still potentially lethal. You DO NOT want evacuees to spread contamination if possible. Uncontrolled evacuation without decontamination will only spread toxins.

Decontamination must be planned for. In the case of New Orleans, folks wading in the flood waters have been exposed to raw sewage, floating animal carcasses, human remains from above-ground-burials-New Orleans-style, and a variety of chemical runoffs [generally referred to as a "witches brew"!!].

In the case of an atomic attack, the culprit for contamination would of course be radioactive fallout. Evacuees must be decontaminated by taking showers using strong soap, clean water, bleach if necessary, getting shots for infections, and having their dirty clothes burned. Same for the victims of radioactive fallout. Slurry ponds must be set as run-off basins. What you end up with is a slurry pond filled with poisonous, potentially lethal water. On a massive scale, preparations to provide for slurry ponds must be done well in advance.

Can further lessons be learned from the New Orleans disaster?? Undoubtedly so!! Further blog entries may well bear this out!!

coolbert.