by the Way . . .

This just in! FEMA will no longer use shelters like the Super Dome for people fleeing a storm. Instead, they will "create an environment for all of the individuals to leave in the face of a storm instead of staying" said Terry Ebbert, a homeland security advisor, speaking at a press conference with federal officials.

The "environment" hasn't been created yet, but they hope it will be completed prior to the beginning of the hurricane season on June 1. The expert prediction is for about 31 storm events this season having winds exceeding 111 mph. As noted in the previous post, the travel trailers tip over or otherwise blow away at winds of 60 mph, or 75 mph "or so" if properly anchored. R. David Paulison, acting director of FEMA, said that moving people out would be even more challenging this time around because now there are more than 94,000 trailers housing evacuees from the last time around. He said that those folks will face mandatory evacuation even for small tropical storms. He did assure everyone that the federal government will not make the same mistakes, and that "we have a different situation now".


The environment, when created, will include an improved public education campaign and new ways to use buses, trains and airplanes. There is one problem that was not addressed. Heretofore it has been illegal to ride in travel trailers while they are being hauled, even if hauled by the federal government. Since the administration has never been willing to ignore the law of the land, this will probably require legislation, and before June 1.