It's interesting. About five days ago, when I first read this thread, I wasn't so sure the benefits of LTS discussion on this site would outweigh the potential for over-bearing TEOTWAWKI scenarios and the potential for an influx of participants who may not be open to alternative points-of-view. I think the most significant challenges we face in having meaningful discussion on LTS, is that it becomes necessary to make a whole series of assumptions and since introducing the temporal dimension introduces the need to consider many variables in the equation.

One of the reasons I started posting to ETS is because I was impressed with how polite, thoughtful and informed the members and post were. I first thought LTS discussions could compromise that, but given my thoughts listed below, I now feel there is much to discuss re LTS.

Seeing how the events have been playing out near the Gulf, my observations and thoughts have been on:
-- how totally unprepared many of these unfortunate individuals are
-- how under-educated many people seem to be
-- how people refused to leave
-- how people seem unwilling to take responsibility for preparing for their own well-being
-- how the local, state and federal governments apparently didn't provide a means of evacuation for those who didn't have the resources or were too ill to leave BEFORE the storm
-- how the local, state and federal governments apparently didn't put enough forethought into responding to a disaster of this size and scope (and let’s face it, from a US geographical perspective, this is a relatively localized event – imagine the repercussions of a significant terrorist attack or natural disaster on two or three US cities at once)
-- how the local, state and federal governments were apparently not prepared to secure the safety of people and property immediately after the severe storm threat had passed (even though with an event like a hurricane they had days to prepare).
-- how difficult it seems to be to keep people calm after the events
-- how uninformed many of these victims seem to be (expressing dissatisfaction that the power is out, as opposed to understanding the dangers of electrocution if it were just turned back on)
-- how I’ll bet that many will be surprised that there are more repercussions yet to come – health issues as disease starts to spread, injuries that may arise from local critters (snakes, gators and crocs, etc)
-- how many of these unfortunate individuals seem to have some expectation that their lives should be able to return to “normal” overnight.
-- how incredulous the victims seem to be that it's difficult to provide food, water and shelter for tens of thousands of victims
-- how mean, violent and uncooperative people appear to be when being sheltered (even as I write this news channels are reporting about the shootings, fire-settings, muggings and rapes inside the Superdome, the lootings (not referring to food and water) and the shootings at rescuers in helicopters and boats outside the Superdome and in the remains of the city).
-- how even as uncomfortable as I’m sure life inside the Superdome is -- probably beyond my ability to comprehend -- many people are complaining about the taste of MREs, and leaks in the roof – as opposed to expressing any thankfulness that they are 1) alive, 2) being given food and water that others are paying for and 3) being given potential relocation to even better accommodations
-- how I can’t help but feeling that (in my uninformed opinion,) it is likely that some small but significant percentage of individuals who stayed behind, may have done so just to have the opportunity to loot, pillage and plunder.
-- how the rest of us will likely be paying indirectly through increases in taxes (or reduction in services), insurance premiums, gasoline prices, building materials, etc. for quite some time.

I could go on and on ……and I’m sure many others could too.

For what it’s worth, you have a BIG YES VOTE from me on creating an additional LTS forum area. It’s clear to me that thousands will be in something of a survival mode for months. We could have meaningful discussions on the Katrina fallout alone for some time. I was happy to help contribute to Chris’ new machine, please know I’ll send another check as soon as I can get clearance from my wife, to support the replacement of the new server.

I’ll even offer up what my first three LTS posts would be:

1) What effect has viewing the events unfolding in New Orleans had on members in terms of re-evaluating how long they intend to prepare to be able to sustain themselves and their families?
2) Has anyone changed their opinion to sheltering-in-place as opposed to using public facilities in a crisis?
3) What additions to or revisions of plans are members making for needing to relocate in event of regional disasters?

Thanks and apologies for the dissertation, but I really felt the need to express my thoughts and feelings,

Michael