When Hurricanes Attack

Earlier tonight hurricane Ivan, a category 4 hurricane out of a scale of 5, made its present felt on the eastern shore of Jamaica, claiming 33 lives. This death toll will most certainly rise, since many of the islanders have refused to be evacuated to nearby shelters, claiming that they cannot leave, for fear of having their houses robbed in their absence.

The citizens of Jamaica are stuck at this moment between a rock and a hurricane. They are being forced to choose between loosing their lives or losing what little they have to live from. That these citizens even have to consider making such a decision is appalling. Should the Jamaican government not be able to assure that in a case of emergency one can go to a place of safety without fearing you'll loose everything? These are tax paying citizens. One of the benefits of paying ones taxes is the assurance that you will be protected and safe in a time of crisis. These people do not sound safe or protected by anyone, least of all their government.

Hopefully events tonight will spur on the the Jamaican government to improve the current sate of security and the force them to sit down and draw up a proper plan in cases of nation wide emergency.