The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

1=;.01PAUL L. POIROTASIDE from lives lost, early estimatesof flood damage when tropicalstorm Agnes moved up theEast Coast in June 1972 approached$2 billion, two-thirds ofit in Pennsylvania.Hours of steady, heavy downpour.Rivulets turning to ,torrents.VVarnings and a rush to evacuateknown flood plains and other lowlyingareas. Bridges out. Carsstalled on flooded and debrisstrewnhighways. Daring boat andhelicopter rescues of hapless victims.Trees uprooted, lawns andfields eroded, homes and cabinsand trailers inundated if not upsetor washed away entirely. Basementsfilled, motors and transformersand electrical appliancesruined, wells polluted, broken gasand water mains - and the fires,burning to the waterline with noway to get fire-fighting equipmentto the scene. VVater rising inthe street, into the lower andsometimes the upper stories ofhomes and places of business.Services swamped, or entirely outof business. Rescue and relief stations.Emergency hospitals, housing,feeding, clothing, pumping,water testing, vaccinations.Then the crest passes. Owners-and probably some looters-wadeback to survey the damage andcarryon the salvage, repair, restoration- or further destruction.VVha t does one think as hesloshes and scoops and picks