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Blogs by Sam Penny
Katrina has stifled my writing 9/2/2005 8:40:54 PM
It is hard to write disaster fiction in the presence of so much hard reality.
I have been working for the past six months (mostly doing research) on my third novel about what happens when a huge earthquake strikes the New Madrid fault in the central US. The first two books focused on the immediate impacts of the earthquake; the next book focuses on the attempts to recover after such a huge disaster.
I suppose my studies have given me a higher than usual insight into the problems facing New Orleans and the surrounding coast, and indeed, the entire country. There is an amazing resemblance of what I expect in Memphis from a giant earthquake and what New Orleans is experiencing with the lack of planning and preparation (even though what could happen was well known), the inpact of total loss of their infrastructure, the delays in response, the bureaucracy getting in the way, the denial on the part of officials in the beginning, and the growing estimates of time it will take to recover. However, there have been some things that have surprised me, like the speed with which society broke down and looting broke out. I was being too optimistic.
The problem our country will face with a giant earthquake on the New Madrid compared to Katrina is that the disaster will be at least ten times worse: ten times the deaths, ten times the damaged area, ten times the financial loss, and ten times the impact on our country's economy. And there will be ten places surrounding Memphis that will be like New Orleans and will soak up all the help that can come in from undamaged areas. Memphis will be cut off and will receive very little help for weeks. It will be the center of Hell.
In no way am I trying to lessen the importance of doing now what is necessary to save New Orleans and the surrounding areas. But it is important that our country's leaders and the entire population learn from this tragedy. Events like this can and will happen again. The survival of our society is at stake.
Unfortunately, the emotional impact of New Orleans has stifled my ability to write. It is hard to write disaster fiction in the presence of so much hard reality. I hope that in time that block will pass.
