The editors of the Washington Post exemplify both the right and proper responses to natural disasters and the wrong ones in their editorial on the response in Houston to Hurricane Harvey. Here’s the right response:
AFTER THIS, “Houston†and “Harvey†will be synonyms for a deluge of unfathomable proportions. Floodwaters crept up to the thresholds of homes at one minute; at the next, people were fleeing, knee-deep in muddy pools, surrounded by fire ants and snakes. In all the misfortune and misery of this storm, one positive note stands out: the stories of how first responders, neighbors, strangers and just plain folks threw their all into the rescue effort.
On roads that had turned into rivers, rescuers in kayaks and fishing boats searched for victims trapped in cars and on rooftops. A television reporter saw a man stuck inside the cab of a truck and called in help. A preacher up to his waist in muddy water checked marooned cars for victims trapped inside. Neighbors grabbed neighbors and heaved them to safety.
While Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) declared that “the cavalry is coming†with thousands of National Guard members, 20 helicopters and 60 boats and high-water vehicles, the storm was far bigger than they could manage alone. Emergency 911 services were overwhelmed, while the National Weather Service announced: “This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced.†With nothing more than their own courage, good people ventured into the rushing gullies and culverts, risking their lives to save others in the unrelenting rain. As of Monday, there were more than 2,000 people rescued and hundreds more waiting for help.
Our hearts go out to the people of Houston and all of those affected by the hurricane. Emergency assistance should be extended to them and we should offer what we can.
But here’s the wrong response:
Lest anyone breathe a sigh of relief, this storm promises to upend lives for years to come. Already, 30,000 people have been forced to flee to shelters; they may not return home for some time. Rebuilding and restoring the region is going to require billions of dollars. The federal government, with help from Congress, needs to respond generously and without partisan rancor, hard as that is to imagine in today’s environment.
Rebuilding and restoring the region, if it is to be done, isn’t a federal matter. It is a local matter, up to the city of Houston, Harris County, and the state of Texas to remediate.
People who live in Minneapolis and Chicago expect cold and snow. We have higher heating bills in the winter time. We pay for snowplowing services and salt to keep the roads clear. Our roads are subject to wear and tear that’s not a factor in more temperate climes. Sometimes a snowstorm exceeds expectations and people die. We shouldn’t be compensated for it by taking money from other people. Similarly, people who live along the Gulf Coast (and New Jersey!) should expect hurricanes. They are facts of life there, just as the cold is here and earthquakes are in California. It shouldn’t be up to the people of Illinois or Colorado or New York to pay for land development in Texas or California but that’s what the editors of the Washington Post are calling for.
Why is our disaster different from all other disasters? I know our state has an a-hole reputation, and for good reason. But it’s also full of people who don’t deserve to be treated like Ted Cruz.