Stop Comparing Qualcomm Stadium to the Super Dome

[erpowers]

Yesterday, I heard a number of TV reporters/correspondents compare the situation at Qualcomm Stadium, in San Diego, to the one, during Hurricane Katrina, at the Super Dome, in New Orleans. I am not sure if it was just one news channel or multiple channels; however, I think it needs to stop.

On a number of occasions, I saw news people point out how things are going better at Qualcomm Stadium than at the New Orleans Super Dome. I contend that the situations are totally different. A number of the problems at the Super Dome could not have been avoided. In New Orleans people were in a closed top dome during a hurricane that had strong winds, which caused electricity and water to shut off and also caused part of the roof to collapse during the hurricane. There was nothing anyone could do about the winds, or the affect they had on the Super Dome, the electricity, and the water. To add to the strong winds of the storm, the city was flooded. Therefore, people could not really leave the Super Dome.

Things are very different at Qualcomm Stadium. Yes, people are being evaluated to the stadium, but I contend that is were the similarities end. As far as I know there are no hurricane force winds blowing at Qualcomm Stadium. Qualcomm Stadium is not a closed stadium dealing with both its electricity and water being shut off. Therefore, people can use the restrooms and there is not have to deal with the smell of human waste. In addition, it is not raining and the city of San Diego is not flooding. Therefore, people have the ability to stay both in a out of the stadium. In addition, it seems that people can just get on a bus and go to another city.

In addition, it is possible that some things were not as bad at the Super Dome as some in the media made them out to be. After things had calmed down in New Orleans reports starting coming out that some of the stories about horrible things happening in the Super Dome could not be proven. Some began to think and I believe some in the media people may have admitted that they did not verify the stories that they reported.

I am not trying to make light of the situation in San Diego or to pretend things were not bad at the Super Dome. I just contend the situations are so different that they should not be compared. I also contend that certain things that happened at the Super Dome could not really have been avoided. Yes, better planning probably would have made things better, but it most likely would not have stopped certain things from happening.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

1. The situation at Qualcomm Stadium

would more likely compare to the situation in Houston at the Astrodome "after Katrina." They're much more organized and prepared, unlike the New Orleans city and Louisiana state administrations prior to Katrina. And FEMA is not making a bad situation worse this time - so far.