In the History Channel show I discussed yesterday here are some interesting bits of flotsam and jetsam:
The most recent crisis event illustrative of a collapse event in the U.S. was Hurricane Katrina and its effect on new Orleans. From that disaster we saw:
* Most households ran out of food after 3 days
* Unprotected stores were looted and emptied of all items (including toys, clothes, basically anything that could be carried out) within 5 days
* Rioting, looting, and the break down of law & order occurred within 4 days after Katrina.
* The sound (and thus use)of weapons being fired was commonplace as a background noise within 4 days of the event.
I guess I was shocked that within 4 days of some sort of catastrophic event, we revert back to the wild west or worse, our basest survival mode instincts kick in. I know that help was very slow in coming, but the resources of a nation were able to be mobilized to help. Suppose there was no help coming...ever again?
Apparently the thin veneer of civilization is quite a bit thinner than I had expected.
6 comments:
Frightening, indeed. I didn't see this show but have read related things like the stray dogs quickly formed packs and became a problem.
Having lived in New Orleans eight years,
(a city notorious for an extremely corrupt
Political caste and police force),
I assert that New Orleans does NOT
Serve as an international model for disaster.
When massive flooding hit
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City in 2008,
there was NOT a major break down
In societal order.
Another example,
When the electricity fails in NYC or LA
There is a massive spike in crime; however,
In Riga or Bombay, 24 hours with out
Electricity is an inconvenience
NOT a calamity.
Societal disintegration from catastrophe;
Therefore, would be regional, NOT worldwide.
lookie, lookie,
I now have a recent photo
Clovis you are correct. This is an isolated example regarding a regional event. In regards to flooding in the mid west, or even in Pacific NW where I live, it did not and does not have the same break down effect. When Mount Saint Helen's erupted it did not lead to a breakdown. Same is true in Hawaii or more recently in the Philippines. Maybe that has to do with population density in effected areas versus resources available? In any event, temporary regional events do not necessarily lead to a complete nor on going breakdown. There are many variables in any situation, but clearly at times freak events do cause a breakdown.
I hope you dont think I was shouting,
In my profession, I frequently give out customized typed instructions; therefore, by habit I capitalize 'NOT'.
A post catastrophic planet would be more realistic and more interesting if it had vast regions of wilderness and pockets of advanced civilization.
Hello Clovis,
I did not take you to be shouting at all, just emphasizing your point. No problem at all. What we have seen through history is after a collapse (Roman western empire) or extermination event (black plague) pockets of civilization do indeed arise and come together. A collapse event would probably mean the abandonment of major cities and their suburbs, but small towns might very well continue on, although in a much different manner than before.
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