19 September 2005

Forced fire evacuations debate both sublime and ridiculous

| johnboy
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ABC Online has a story on a bizarre debate on the serious issue of whether the police should be able to compulsorily evacuate houses in emergencies.

New Orleans has given us a recent demonstration of what happens when compulsory evacuations aren’t, um, compulsory. On the other hand, prepared and equipped people seem to do rather well at saving their houses against even the fiercest of fires.

But then John Hargreaves has to wave his willy around:

When it comes to a choice between saving a house and saving a life, it’s a very easy choice for me

An easy choice if the Minister for Emergency Services hasn’t buggered off on holidays the night before and the Chief Minister isn’t too busy having coffee perhaps?

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Lol, I’ve been farming out New Orleans jokes all last week, there’s even been Hoff involvement…

…drove my Chevy to the levee…..

It’s never too early for New Orleans jokes!

Eric Burdon, former lead singer of ‘The Animals’, has categorically stated that he was incorrect when he sang “There is a house in New Orleans”!

Is it too early for New Orleans jokes yet?

Samuel Gordon-Stewart9:58 pm 19 Sep 05

I think the main difference here is that Fires tend to be put out, whereas water isn’t easily drained from cities below sea level. That, in my view, was the main problem, they couldn’t get rid of the water which severely hampered operations. Canberra doesn’t have that problem because we aren’t near the coastline, and people tend to be more fearful of fires anyway. In the event of a fire you will always have people who will stay behind, and if they survive they aren’t usually going to have trouble remaining mobile.

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