Getting It Right- Thank You Fay

8/22/08
"In my opinion, Fay did more good than harm in our area."
For several years the entire Southeast has been under a continuing drought. This situation led to national attention to the impact a shortage of water can have on intra-state relationships. Many termed the conflict the "Georgia – Florida Water Wars".
Caught in the middle of this conflict was the U.S. Corps of Engineers, who has the authority to determine how river waters are managed and distributed. Atlanta has apparently not prepared its infrastructure in anticipation of an extended drought period, and has relied heavily on the water coming from the Chattahoochee River system and its man made lakes along the path of the river.
Atlanta demanded the Corps to keep more water in Lake Lanier above Atlanta, while at the other end of the river system, Florida’s seafood industry in the Apalachicola Bay demanded more water be released. A political war ensued.
The primary reason for the severe shortage of water appears to be primarily due to the absence of a real good, trash floating hurricane or two that covers the entire Southeast with fresh water. Combine this with a couple of dry, hot summers and you have created the situation.
Then….along came Fay.
Fay was actually God sending us a water sprinkler. Fay behaved almost identically to one of those tractor shaped lawn sprinklers that slowly crawls across a lawn spewing our needed water while pulling the garden hose behind it.
This gentle storm seemed to enjoy staying over land, not wanting to become a roaring, roof ripping monster. Instead, Fay came across Puerto Rico, and then skipped across a little ocean to reach Dominican Republic and Haiti, then again crossed a small ocean span to cross Cuba. Then she skipped over the Keys and entered Florida near its southern tip. She then slowly sprinkled south and central Florida.
It almost appeared that when she felt herself losing too much strength to do a good sprinkling job, she would move over to a coastline to park off shore for a few hours to suck up more energy and life giving waters. Then she would move inland again and resume her lawn sprinkling chores.
The few areas where flooding was a problem appeared to be related to poorly designed or poorly maintained drainage systems. It was really not Fay’s fault.
I am sure she feels bad about any inconveniences she may have caused, such as being without cable for a few hours. She especially regrets any automobile wrecks she might have contributed to, or any folks that may have hurt themselves by running a generator in an enclosed space and suffering carbon monoxide poisoning….but in total she was doing more good than harm.
When Fay reached the North Florida area, she realized her job was not done, so she gracefully turned west in order to do her work over the Panhandle area. She slowly moved across our area, blowing gently as she filled our aquifers, lakes, and rivers. She reached as far as she could up into Georgia and Alabama in order to do as good a job as possible. She hoped to end the water wars for awhile while solutions were worked out by our astute politicians.
Good old Fay! Gal, you did great work for Florida. Send a small sister to see us next year.
Rudiments –
Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning:
- Well the three forums we sponsored are over, and it is time to vote our choices. Over seven hundred citizens attended the forums, with several thousand additional seeing it on Chipola Television CCTV 4. Our thanks to all that participated and helped.
- In answering questions posed at the last forum, candidates were asked if a state mandate must always be obeyed. Both candidates who answered this question stated that they felt mandates had to be obeyed at all times. I take exception to that approach. First, the source of the mandate should be investigated. Some are legislated mandates that have been passed by the legislature. These are law and can only be resisted through political pressure from our state representatives or by our local authorities creating a test case in the courts. Other mandates are merely rules or procedures sent forth by a bureaucrat in Tallahassee. These should always be carefully evaluated and can and should be opposed locally if necessary.
- We have received a media advisory from the State Insurance Commissioner reminding people that since Fay was not classified as a hurricane, the hurricane exemptions claimed by insurance providers no not apply. Don’t let them cheat you if you have a claim.
- Well, the national conventions have started. Prepare thyself for a full week of unfounded claims, empty promises, and political BS.
- All candidates who qualified and ran during our local election deserve our gratitude and respect. All were qualified and almost all ran a hard, clean campaign. We thank you for taking part in our American election process.
- If you voted…and voted wisely…you were "Getting It Right"
Note: The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hatcher Publishing.