These hurricanes are turning out to be amazing things, even beyond the havoc they wreak on lives and property. The second one in as many weeks, Rita, again provided interesting insights into our human nature.

First, before Rita even hit, I am of the opinion that we were treated to sensationalism of a magnitude only today’s media is capable of producing. Reporters from every major network were sent to the area to report on the advent of this newest cataclysm that this time would hit Houston, or so they said. Many even seemed almost giddy when, while still out in the Gulf, Rita obtained a category 5 designation. This enabled them to give us reports that implied that Rita was a threat of such proportions that it could likely extinguish many, if not all, life forms found in its path. It was a monster coming to Houston that would likely crush those citizens unfortunate or stupid enough to remain. The only question that remained was not if, but when, this disaster would occur. The result? Panic, of course. But in my opinion both the reporters and the citizens who panicked overlooked a couple of obvious points. Unlike New Orleans, Houston is not below sea level. I would think this alone would reduce the threat to life and limb that resulted from Katrina. Second, even if Rita remained a category 5 and did hit Houston, how life threatening could it really be, if the reporters themselves were not leaving the area in the interests of ratings? In my opinion, the panic snowballed as much because of the media’s hyper-coverage of Rita as because of Rita itself.

Next, we witnessed the panic itself. This time around, however, unlike New Orleans it did not occur after the storm, but rather before. Naturally, not wanting to revisit the New Orleans experience, Houston attempted a mass exodus whereby throngs of people tried to flee down the interstate. Flee, however, turned out to be a euphemism. The imbroglio that was produced, was a disaster similar in proportions to that of New Orleans, only it took a different form. This time around, rather than becoming stranded on roof-tops, thousands who had the resources to do so quickly became stranded in the traffic gridlock produced by the panic. Far too many vehicles attempted to occupy the same space at the same time, while others further inhibited the stampede by running out of gas due to delays that far exceeded anyone’s expectations. Clearly, it was a category 5 traffic jam. Interestingly, it was also one that conceivably could have put these people at greater risk of harm from the effects of the storm than had they just stayed home. Meanwhile elsewhere, others did just that, in large part due to the fact that, lacking resources, they simply had no choice but to stay home and ride it out as best they could. As a result, we were treated to a tragic-comedy. Both the have’s and the have-not’s were interestingly put in the position of possibly being screwed at the same time, albeit in different ways. Of course, this all left me pondering the adequacy of our emergency response procedures and wondering whether there possibly could be a better way.

Then it came to me: an epiphany that resulted from a news report that the nightmare on the interstate was being caused, in part, by families who were trying to save all of the multiple family cars they owned. As I understand it, there were many instances where mom was found driving one, while dad drove another and in some instances sons and daughters were driving even others. Then I really started looking, and was amazed to see how many of the vehicles that had been brought to a standstill on the road had only one person in the car. That’s not to say that these cars weren’t packed to the gills with possessions. They were. But this only told me that, when the chips are down, some are more interested in saving things like their stereos and T.V.’s than their fellow man. Really, how sad is that?

So, what’s the answer? In the short run, it may be as simple as enacting a law that, in the event of any similar emergency evacuation, absolutely no vehicle will be allowed on an interstate that has less than three people aboard. Think about the positive consequences such a law would produce. Would not people be given an incentive to look for others to join them so they would be permitted to get out of town, and so, many of those who would otherwise have no transportation would thereby have an increased possibility of being rescued. That is not to mention the fact that the number of vehicles on the road would be seriously reduced, and consequently so would be also the total amount of gasoline needed for the evacuation. Perhaps the law could be called something like the Good Samaritan Evacuation Plan. After all, it would merely represent nothing more than legislatively mandating the effect originally intended by the Golden Rule. Practically speaking, the government would simply be saying that, in the event of an emergency, you will be required to at least act as if you loved your fellow man as much as yourself. And even just that would be a good thing. At minimum, it would allow all concerned a greater chance of surviving at least long enough for them to work on loving them indeed maybe later.

© 2005 Clifford C. Nichols, Esq.

Cliff Nichols is an attorney practicing criminal defense/entertainment law in Santa Monica, California. He may be contacted regarding this editorial at either (310) 917-1083 or www.cliffnicholslaw.com or you may join his blog at www.thedailystand.com