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September 26, 2005 -- Vol. 5 Issue 39 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
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 In This Newsletter:
Ever Wonder
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? A Personal Note From Jack
 The arriving of hurricanes Katrina and Rita during such a short period of time on our Gulf Coast has, unexpectedly of course, set up examples by which we can compare the aftermaths of these nasty storms and how people reacted. And what a comparison it is!
Let us concentrate our thoughts first on Louisiana, specifically New Orleans, as it relates to Katrina. The citizens of Louisiana were given a warning of several days as the hurricane crossed Florida and the weather experts tracked her course, notifying the world of the pulsating strength of the storm. Whatever faults may be laid at the feet of federal agencies and our president, there seems to be clear confirmation that Louisiana Gov. Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did not respond immediately to President Bush’s advice, thus wasting valuable time. But here is an interesting difference. Even given mandatory evacuation orders (which were not enforced) thousands upon thousands of New Orleans residents refused to leave, thus exacerbating the problems. A couple of reasons come to mind. They had dodged hurricanes before. This experience gave them a false sense of security and they decided to stick it out. Almost immediately after the hurricane hit, we began to receive reports of looting, some by locals, much attributed to out of towners, who had come with fast boats, powerful cars, good communications systems and weapons. So in that sense, New Orleans was put upon by professional thieves. What was shocking to me was the amount of complaints coming from victims who were being given a lot of help by first responders. Without being redundant and repeating all I have written previously, lets just say there was an overwhelming negative tone emanating from people that I thought should be grateful. By the time Rita first made her appearance, the people of Texas (and even potential victims in Louisiana) had already either experienced the wrath of the hurricane or had heard about it and had seen pictures presented by the media. When ordered to evacuate, they did — in droves. When it is considered that Texas officials had expected to evacuate only about 1.5 million on their highways, it is surprising that the highway evacuations went as well as they did. The bus tragedy that killed 24 elderly people was tragic, but it cannot be laid at the feet of state officials. The final estimate on how many had safely left the area was upwards of 2.7 million. Quite an accomplishment for officials who certainly had never experienced anything like that before. We all know the highways jammed. But we see traffic jams on American highways all the time. All it takes is a fender bender to make other drivers slow down and gawk. All it takes is a minor accident to cause a chain reaction during rush-hour traffic to cause traffic to back up. For many miles. So maybe some of the problems should have been anticipated. Having never been through such an ordeal before, it is understandable that no one expected journeys that normally would have taken but a few hours to stretch out to many hours, even as long as a day, with passengers facing empty gas tanks, temperatures that were 90 degrees or more and traffic that stood still much of the time and sometimes increased to the horrendous speed of two or three miles per hour. One lady reported moving 6.5 miles in more than eight hours. Others reported slower progress. The next time such a thing happens, it is likely that state officials will have pre-established fueling stops along the way, perhaps even medical units. Hurricanes are not the only opportunity we have for evacuating by highway, although the others for the most part are almost unthinkable. In the end, upwards of 2.7 million people made what turned out to be an uncomfortable trip at the worst. Consider what would have happened if thousands of them had refused to evacuate (as in Louisiana) and Rita had not made those little wiggles that moved her off line from what was first considered to be where she would make landfall. And surprise, surprise, we have not heard numerous reports of looting. One officer said about 20 places were struck by thieves but 16 of them had been jailed. And so far, that’s that. I have my own opinions about why New Orleans reports included shootings, looting, rapes, muggings, etc., and the Texas report was meek by comparison. You have to answer that question for yourself. But perhaps those who insisted upon staying in New Orleans knew something the rest of us didn’t know. Many admitted wanting to stay to protect their property. But hold on! Let’s apply the brakes and consider the reports of looting, killing, rapes, etc., that were supposed to have taken place in the Superdome. Did they actually take place? Rush Limbaugh reported today that three doctors were sent into the Superdome with a refrigerator truck to remove "all of those bodies" reported to have been there. As it turns out, there were 10. Of these, one died of natural causes, one overdosed and one was a suicide. Four of the bodies were of people who died outside of the dome and were taken inside. We have no report on cause of death. That leaves three, and we have no explanation for them either. New Orleans officials have reported that three violent deaths (killings, for instance) would be about the same number as would be normal without the hurricane. I wrote previously that reports given early on during disasters need to be processed carefully. Officials have said that reports of the bodies being given by witnesses in the dome were accepted by many of the press and not checked out. For example, let us speculate. What if a witness, still suffering trauma from the experience of being uprooted and taken to the dome, blurted out, "There were bodies all over the place!" Wouldn’t you think the reporter would check further to confirm what he/she planned to report on the subject? Well, enough said. At the time of this writing, there are still restrictions on who can and who cannot return to their homes in various locations along the Gulf. Obviously cleanup is simplified for everyone if residents are not milling around all over the place. So far, law enforcement has said they are protecting property. In the meantime, the Coast Guard is again doing what it does best — rescuing people. A late weekend report said they had save about 50 people in just one area so far. The rescue was similar to those in New Orleans. People were lifted from the rooftops. "The Waterways Journal" last week threw bouquets at the Coast Guard for its marvelous performance in saving more than 9,000 lives from the rubble left by Katrina. Over the weekend, it was assuredly complimentary when two Louisiana congressmen said they would be happy to have the Coast Guard in charge of hurricane response. Actually the discussion was focused upon whether or not the U.S. should change the Constitution to enable the military to move right in without first getting state permission. Neither believe the Constitution needs change and neither believes such authority should be granted without serious consideration. The Coast Guard is not bound by the Constitution; it can move quickly to enact policies and send "troops" to the rescue. Further, as has been demonstrated by Vice Adm. Thad Allen, the Coast Guard’s chief of staff, the agency has the experience and moves quickly. Both legislators expressed faith in the Coast Guard. It can also be noted that in the wake of Katrina and the unexpected arrival of Rita, both Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin seemed to have passed Hurricane 101. Blanco responded to the federal government quickly with required paperwork. We received a detailed copy of the letter Blanco had to submit to the government, but no need to reproduce it here. Nagin appeared to stiffen his back a little when it was suggested that he not let evacuees back into the city of New Orleans so quickly, but as Rita moved in and Adm. Allen visited with him — we understand President Bush may even have gotten into the act — and Nagin relented and told people not to come back. He even presented Adm. Allen with an "I love New Orleans" tee-shirt, the love being replaced by a red heart. Apparently that was to cement relationships between good friends. (Ho! Ho!) Rita did swing over and bang New Orleans with unneeded rainfall, enough to overtop floodwalls and even cause a couple breaches. As of Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was considerably ahead of schedule closing the breeches. Asked how long it would take to make New Orleans safe if they had all the money they needed, one Corps officer said three to five years. The resurrection of New Orleans will probably take longer than that. And then, of course, there are all of those pork projects that must not be shuttled aside. "A highway to nowhere" one of them is called. Keeping a watchful eye on how federal dollars are spent will be a Goliath of a job, and we doubt that it will be carried out efficiently enough to keep some from getting money they should not get. We only can hope that the truly needy are helped along the way. From the visitations of Katrina and Rita we have been given yet one more warning that we had better get our act together as it relates to energy efficiency. One report said there are 4,000 oil rigs on the Gulf. That’s far more than I personally thought there were, and I don’t know if that is a close figure or not. There are a lot more refineries than I had thought, too, but they are insufficient in number to refine the amount of gas, heating oil, etc., this nation deeds. It appears that the oil industry was not spared totally by Rita. Oil-industry infrastructure in the Port Arthur area was slammed hard, and it will take weeks to get the equipment back on line. A couple refineries were leaking gas and some other unidentified product. Prices will spike. We knew they would, didn’t we? They always do. You and I will pay. The reporting of Hurricane Katrina, I think, put virtually all of the focus on New Orleans. Other entire communities in Mississippi and Alabama got wiped off the map, but the cameramen spent most of their time worry about a city that many parents would never permit their children to visit. We heard nothing about looting and complaints and bad behavior from the other demolished towns. But we read mostly about a city filled with non-cooperating people who refused to leave when asked by authorities. Rita has done some horrendous damage, wiping out some communities. We heard no reports or saw no film about first responders driving in to deliver water and food and whatever else was needed. As much damage as their was, most people were out of harms way because they had evacuated as instructed. My point here is that it might be easy to overlook some communities that were truly messed up by Rita, due mostly because I just haven’t seen reports about them. But from my point of view, the behavior of the potential victims of these two storms was vastly different. We cannot prevent hurricanes. But we are able to earmark money for the development of alternative fuels and other energy sources. So far we have done little but build more gas-guzzling automobiles. Oh, we can get special cars that run on ethanol, but all in all, few of them are being produced. Wind energy is beginning to help produce energy for homes, and investors are finding it worthwhile. Yet, there we are, depending upon daily transfusions of millions of barrels of oil from the very nations we see as troublesome. During the first Gulf war, our mothball fleet was inadequate, but even then, we didn’t have enough operators to handle what vessels we could get away from the piers. We learned at that time that some operators we had hired or tried to hire (from foreign countries) refused to deliver the goods. Now we are hearing that China and India, with burgeoning populations, will soon be able to gobble up the world’s entire supply of oil between them. Wonder how many years before that happens? Should our legislators get serious and act to solve the energy problems that most certainly will occur again and again with increasing frequency in the future? Obviously! Will they? Probably not. Government is reactive. It has always been so. How will we pay for these back-to-back disasters? We don’t know. What we do know is that politicians will remain politicians and strive to protect their turf as suggestions are made to eliminate wasteful programs and cut spending on others. A good expenditure, I think, would be used to finance a teaching section in every school across the land to educate students about natural disasters and how the public should respond. We have some extensive experience from which to draw facts. A three-day, concentrated lesson in this area of focus might pay big dividends in the long run. Stay turned! Newsletter News
Hopefully in coming weeks we will begin to diversify our news and reduce reporting (and opinion) about Katrina and Rita. What I would like to learn from the newscasters are brief reports on three subjects: (1) What happens to the thousands of damaged vessels we see stacked up along the coast, some of them battered beyond recognition and others thrown considerably inland but appearing not so damaged? (2) Is there any way to salvage wood in areas not covered by water but where homes were destroyed? (3) How do they dispose of all of the debris? What is the ultimate method? So far I have heard nothing or have missed reporting on these subjects. If any B&B readers know some of the answers for sure, enlighten us by email. There is one indicator in our "On The Waterfront" news below. It appears that any boat yards able to survive will be booming in business for years to come. As for debris, you will find below a report on the subject, but it is related only to New Orleans. For Those Inclined To Pray
 We have modified the steps for joining our Prayer Circle. If you visit the Prayer Circle link on at www.littleriverbooks.com, you will find that those who sign up are completely anonymous. We do not ask for first names nor states of residence. Joining is as simple as providing an email address to which we can send future prayer requests. Each prayer request list includes a link for including requests.
By joining our Prayer Circle, you can tap into the prayerful support of circle members wherever they are. Membership and prayer requests are open to everyone. Advertising
Your classified ad can go in this space for $10 for one week, $20 for two weeks, $25 for three weeks, and $30 for four weeks. For details click here. On The Waterfront
Trinity Yacht To Buy Gulfport, Miss., Yard Trinity Yacht LLC officials have reported that despite slight damage to its New Orleans yard, the company is still on track to purchase a second shipyard in Gulfport, Miss., where it will expand its capability to build and repair luxury custom superyachts. The Gulfport yard, Genoa Design International reports, has more than nine acres of covered building area situated on 50 acres of land. Combined with the New Orleans facility, which has 10 acres under roof and a total of 38 acres, it will give Trinity the capacity to build 8-10 megayachts annually. As for hurricane response, Trinity has plans underway to provide 100 housing units in Gulfport for displaced employees or sub contractors. WorkBoat Show Cancelled (for the record) It’s old news by now, but for the record, WorkBoat has announced that the 2005 International WorkBoat Show, scheduled for November 30 – December 2, has been cancelled in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The 2006 edition will take place November 29 – December 1, 2006. Shipyards Expected To Submit Bids For Washington State Ferries According to the "Seattle Times," shipyards are now likely to submit bids for the construction of four new ferries, a $284 million project. It was intended that the project would be further along, but the bidding process was invalidated last February by the courts. The state had determined that Todd Shipyards was the only company financially qualified to handle the job. But the state has dropped its appeal of that court order, and J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding of Tacoma will be allowed to submit a technical proposal to build the ferries. The original plans call for four 130-car ferries. Planners are now considering 144-car ferries to meet the needs of a growing population, the report said. It had been hoped earlier that the first ferry could be in service by 2008. Experts Say New Orleans Debris Might Fill 6 Million Dump Trucks An Associated Press report in the "Los Angeles Times" estimates that carting off snapped trees, sodden carpets, moldy drywall and warped furniture could require some 6 million dump trucks. Debris piles are growing across the city in parking lots, on front lawns and on ball fields. Experts said it would take the "biggest garbage haul ever." Another report says that the search for bodies amid the wreckage could go on for another four to six weeks. About 500 persons are involved in the search of locked homes. (Editor’s note: The next question is, "What do they do with the debris?") Storm Expert Says New Orleans Floodwalls Not Overtopped "The Advocate" (Baton Rouge) cites a Louisiana State University hurricane expert as rejecting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ explanations as to why floodwalls in New Orleans failed. (The LSU center predicts storm surges for emergency officials.) "The New York Times" also reported on the subject, saying the storm was not as bad as predicted and pointing fingers at Corps construction practices. Even though there are those who insist that the storm was a Category 4, it did not reach that level and the brunt of the hurricane passed east of New Orleans, the paper reported. University researchers, studying watermarks and other evidence to enhance their predictions as to what to expect in the future, "saw no evidence that walls along the two canals had been overtopped. Breaches along those canals accounted for much of the flooding of New Orleans," "The Advocate" reported. Editorial Reminds Us About Hurricane Lessons For The Future A "Washington Post" editorial reminds us that in 1928 a hurricane swept across Florida, taking dead aim at Lake Okeechobee. The storm waters smashed through the dikes and swept away agricultural communities. Some 2,000 people died. Responding to Florida’s call for help, Congress called in the Corps, which built a 45-foot-high dike 40 miles long around the southern shore of the lake. The plantation economy of the region returned gradually to normal and Lake Okeechobee has not been threatened since. (Editor’s note: It seems to us that New Orleans, in one way or another, has issued a cry for hurricane protection for nearly 50 years. Congress apparently learned no lesson. It has approved only anemic budgets for the Corps of Engineers for decades.) News Reports Indicate Two Boaters May Be Missing On Monongahela River Weekend reports indicate that a pleasure boat may have struck a barge around 9 p.m. Sunday night on the Monongahela River. Two unidentified women in lifejackets were rescued and taken to an area hospital. The Rev. Art Mace, who was crossing the river after watching Sunday’s Steelers-Patriots football game, said he was forced to change course when he was blinded by the searchlight from the tow. He heard the women screaming for help and went to their aid. He said they were badly hurt. They were unable to explain what happened. Searchers were combing the river Sunday night. Stay tuned! Houston REC On Line, New Orleans REC Out Of Business The Coast Guard moved quickly to restore Regional Examination Center services to New Orleans area. The REC in New Orleans was put out of commission and closed when the area was hit by hurricane Katrina. The REC at Houston originally experienced a loss of communications but has been restored to full operating capability, the Coast Guard reports. The New Orleans REC was the largest in the nation and regularly issued about 20 percent of all mariners’ credentials issued nationwide. Documents will apparently now be issued from the Houston REC. Memo Criticizes Congress For Ignoring Coast Guard Budgetary Needs The Heritage Foundation has published a memo stating that members of Congress have ignored the good performance of the U.S. Coast Guard during hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, during which the Coast Guard saved more than 33,000 people. The memo, written on September 16, said: "So far, the men and women of the Coast Guard have saved over 33,000 people endangered by Katrina, demonstrating as they have again and again since 9/11 the importance of the many security and safety missions they perform in the service of the nation. Congress should recognize their contributions by fully funding the Coast Guard’s modernization budget." (Editor’s note: The Coast Guard is repeating its good service in the wake of Rita.) advertisement
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Recipe Box
If you are a towboat cook, home chef, backyard barbecuer, tailgater, or know anybody who is, please pass the word along to submit recipes! Boat Photo Center
 Keep those good pictures coming. We got a lot of nice close-ups from George E. Vincent, a totally new contributor to the Photo Center, I believe. Frankly, this past week has brought a minor flood of good pictures, but now is not the time to let up. The Boat Photo Center is one of the most popular places visited by web site browsers.
This week the Center carries 10 pictures, including those from Ed Rahe, who sent in the St. John, Chelsea, and the whistle on the Natchez; George E. Vincent, who submitted the Harry M. Mack, Starfire and Andrew Cargill MacMillan, Mark G. Aron, American Heritage, and Frank R. Alter; and Tom Waller, whose pictures included the Shorty Baird and Ted Cook. Book Beat
 For those inclined to be interested in the technical side of waterways and problems encountered during floods, land restoration, etc., "Taming The Upper Mississippi" is a great book. It covers details over many years (more than 50) and even reminds us that Mississippi River levees were in use both above and below New Orleans more than 300 years ago.
Taming the Upper Mississippi: My Turn at Watch is both a river history and a civil engineer’s biography. Just as a farmer strives to be a good steward of his land, a good civil engineer strives to improve both the built environment and the natural resources available for our future. Taming the Upper Mississippi: My Turn at Watch reflects the challenges and limitations in river stewardship. William H. Klingner’s civil engineering career began in the mid-1930s - concurrent with the construction of the lock and dam system from St. Louis to Minneapolis - St. Paul. Under the New Deal, the federal government began massive public works and infrastructure improvements which led to the most significant change in the river’s history. During that period, American universities across the country started civil and mechanical engineering curricula. On the local level, there was a need to improve public works, including water systems, sanitary works, transportation, and drainage necessary for a better quality of life. Our Price: $15.00 Gift Shop
Den Haan Rotterdam, founded in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1922, began as a manufacturer of navigation and interior lighting for inland and seagoing vessels. All lamps, many of them replicas of old models, are hand made to commercial ship standards. Each lamp is made of solid brass with a polished and lacquered finish, giving it distinctive style and quality. Their lasting beauty and timeless design will enhance the decor of any home or ship’s cabin.
Tow Talkin'
September 26, 2005 By Kathy Flippo  Got a new change in town. Tommy Littlejohn started his river career on a towboat, then started driving a desk here in Clinton for the ARTCO Fleeting Service. Now he is back in the pilothouse and is a new man. Being on the river does that to a person. He’s working for Alter Barge Line, Inc. of Bettendorf, Iowa, as a pilot on the Mv. Phyllis. Congratulations!
The Davenport, Iowa, newspaper, "Quad-City Times," is celebrating 150 years and in doing so has been running special sections in the Sunday editions. One article was "River keeps commerce moving, evolving" and was all accurate until the last two paragraphs. The writer says, "Today, the river is a major avenue for the transportation of corn and soybeans and also for petroleum byproducts." Gee, I wonder when the last time he noticed whole tows of coal moving upstream, or even thought about all the cement, rock, asphalt, anhydrous ammonia, other…to continue reading, click here. See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our website! |
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