Katrina in Vermont (James Howard Kunstler)

[Tace]

James Howard Kunstler -- World News Trust

Note to readers: I'll run an update at the bottom of this blog over the next few days.

Aug. 29, 2011 -- The same creeping nausea that followed the CNN "all clear" sign in New Orleans six years ago happened again yesterday.

Anderson Cooper seemed a little peeved that the lights didn't go out in Manhattan, but then the remnants of Hurricane Irene stomped up the Hudson Valley and stalled a while and commenced to rip apart the Catskills, the eastern Adirondacks, the Mohawk and upper Hudson valleys, and then almost all of Vermont, not to mention New Hampshire and western Massachusetts, and I can't even tell you much about whatever's going on in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland this morning. Connecticut, Long Island, and Rhode Island are in there somewhere, and surely there's more than a few things out of place in North Carolina.

This is nowhere near Katrina's death toll of over 1,800 souls, but the damage to scores of towns, businesses, houses, and basic civic armature is going to be very impressive as the news filters in later this week and the disaster is still very much ongoing Monday, even with the sun shining bright. Towns all over Vermont and New Hampshire are still drowning. The Hudson River is still on the rise. The Mohawk River is at a 500-year flood stage and is about to wipe the old city center of Schenectady, New York, off the map. Bridges, dams, and roads are gone over a region at least as big as the Gulf Coast splatter-trail of Katrina.

That story is still developing. A lot of people will not be able to get around for a long, long time, especially in Vermont and New Hampshire, where the rugged terrain only allows for a few major roads that go anywhere. Even the bridges that were not entirely washed away may have to be inspected before people are allowed to drive over them, and some of these bridges may be structurally shot even if they look superficially okay. There are a lot of them. If you live in a flat state, you may have no idea.

more

http://worldnewstrust.com/katrina-in-vermont-james-howard-kunstler.html

[handmade34]

1. this on the heels

of a storm earlier this spring that washed out many roads...

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BT&Dato=20110830&Kategori=NEWS02&Lopenr=108300801&Ref=PH&odyssey=mod|galleriespic|umbrella

[democrank]

2. K & R

[jwirr]

3. Thank you for posting this. World Made by Hand indeed.

[kdmorris]

4. I hope that the congress gets their head out of their ass

And does the right thing for you in Vermont. I agree with another poster. The democrats need to just keep saying what a bunch of heartless bastards the Republicans are. How can they hold the American people hostage so that they can play their stupid games?

States, communities and people cannot help themselves after a storm. That is why there is Federal Emergency Relief.

These people really would have all the money in their pockets and the rest of us serving them if they got their way. Tea Party...what a bunch of self-absorbed assholes.

[swilton]

5. Just moved to NH a year ago

and was just getting to appreciate the wondrous world of Vermont - was lucky to stay off of Black Mountain Rd. for two months. This is so sad..I will patiently wait for its return.