Yes, I know what you mean. Ray Nagin is no Chris Christie....

I think it is all down to perspective. I didn't pay too much attention to the coverage as it didn't affect me personally. But, if I lived closer and was about to be affected by the storm I would have watched more closely and probably feel very different. Since we live in earthquake country, we know that we don't get warnings. Those who live in hurricane country do have the opportunity of forewarning and appreciate the opportunity to do what they have to do to keep themselves and their property adequately ready. If we could have the same forewarning of earthquakes I know we would appreciate the time to prepare ourselves. Therefore, I think that the fact that there is technology available for these natural disasters is good. If the storm doesn't live up to the hype or the coverage is supposedly too much, then it is better than having too little. If you are not interested in the event, then why spend the time watching? If you are in the way of the storm, then no coverage is too much. If only we could get the same for earthquakes.

Mayor of New York: Close the subways and bridges and EVACUATE!!! Mayor of New Orleans: Zzzzz! Makes a difference, don't it?

"Mayor of New York: Close the subways and bridges and EVACUATE!!! Mayor of New Orleans: Zzzzz! Makes a difference, don't it?" Mayor of New York--white. Mayor of New Orleans--african-american. Wonder why Walter is critical. Also, Walter as usual is ignoring the facts (kind of like Walter claiming only a few hundred cambodians were killed by illegal US bombing during the Vietnam War, when the world recognizes that the number runs in the hundreds of thousands--but, hey, they were not aryan). Nagin did order an evacuation, though he even admits that he should have ordered it earlier: "Web Link also: Web Link "On Friday, August 26, 2005 Nagin advised New Orleanians to keep a close eye on the storm and prepare for evacuation. He made various statements encouraging people to leave, without officially calling for an evacuation throughout Saturday the 27th before issuing a call for voluntary evacuation that evening. He was hesitant to order a mandatory evacuation because of concerns about the city's liability for closing hotels and other businesses.[7] Nagin continued to announce that the city attorney was reviewing the information regarding this issue and once he had reviewed the city attorney's opinion he would make a decision whether to give the order to evacuate the city. With fewer than 24 hours left before the storm's landfall, Nagin declared a mandatory evacuation, the first in the city's history, and the first for a U.S. city of this size since the American Civil War."

"She had plans back at college in Vermont that *Irena* has disrupted" You're almost there!