Why We Need To Rebuild

Well, I'm hearing new carefully worded rumblings regarding the Federal Government should be involved in the recovery of the Central Gulf Coast and whether any type of rebuilding should even occur.

Let's examine both of these topics, taking the politics right out of the fight.

Logistically, the Fed. Gov't is the only establishment large enough to command the resources required to supply the initial rebuilding. When a geographic area roughly the size of England is destroyed, can it be a reasonable request for that area to deal with the problem itself? Would England be able to? No. Europe as a whole would be needed for a disaster of that magnitude. There is no way local, county, regional or state level agencies of any kind (both non governmental and governmental) could support the logistics needed for this size endeavor. It would be absurd for anyone to think it possible.

Within emergency services, there are levels of response. If 1 town or 1 department can not cope with a particular emergency, "mutual aid" is called in. An emergency of this natur exlipses any mutual aid plan that an entire region could absorb. And so too, it goes with rebuilding. When all infrastructure is literally no longer in existance - electric, natural gas, petrolium products, phone lines, ROADS, water, sewer, rail lines - what town, county, combination of counties, state or combination of states can absorb this kind of rebuilding? Pragmatically, it can not possibly be done without federal assistance. It is for this very reason the federal government *does* exist - to handle issues that are too large for the states and that affect the entire nation.

Which brings us to the next point - whether to rebuild at all. Unfortunately, we have no choice, Closing down the central Gulf of Mexico to save money on rebuilding is penny wise and pound foolish at best. Economically, it can not occur. Oil and food stuffs from South America come through there. Manufacturing goods such as steel and wood flow through the ports found in the devestated areas. Oil refineries, oil platforms, travel and tourism are also located throughout the region, creating major economic implications.

Any type of rebuilding will require workers to support the area. Those working in the ports, the fishing industry, the oil and natural gas industries will need places to live, shop, eat and entertain. And so too, will those jobs need filling and housing. Even if the entire region became a "resort community" as some have whispered, those using and living within these communities are highly unlikely to do the service jobs that are required to support such communities. Again, with those jobs come a need for housing and support as well. Regardless of how you look at it, the Central Gulf Coast will rebuild.

So we might as well rebuild as efficiently and as safely as we can so we as a nation won't have to absorb this kind of devestation again.