Gasp! The Big Bad Government has developed someting that may help in future storms

[courseofhistory]

Hurricane Sandy: Inflatable Plugs Might Have Minimized New York City Subway Flooding (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Gasp! The Big Bad Government has developed someting that may help in the future for vicitims of storms like Sandy, hurricaines, etc. The same government Mitt wants to downsize--especially FEMA.

If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, a new technology developed by the Department of Homeland Security might have been worth its weight in gold during Hurricane Sandy.

That technology is a gigantic inflatable plug that might have prevented the massive flooding of New York City's subway system caused by the storm. In simulations, the plugs--originally developed to combat terrorist attacks and now being evaluated at West Virginia University--have proven to be effective at limiting flooding in tunnels.

Developed as part of the "Resilient Tunnel Project," the plugs are actually enormous balloon-like capsules, according to a department press release. When filled with air or 35,000 gallons of water, the plugs measure 32 feet by 16 feet. Unfilled, they take up little space and can be stashed throughout tunnels, waiting to be inflated remotely at a moment's notice.

 

[Katzndogz]

That sure would have helped the people in New Jersey.

 

[Sinjorri]

why do people think the government is smarter than they are?

 

[courseofhistory]

why do people think the government is smarter than they are?

Not smarter--they have more resouirces (funding) to develop these things. They rely on engineers and scientists whom they fund to develop things. I know it's hard for back woodsers to understand such foreign concepts, but the government can do much more than individuals on their own when it comes to huge projects and developments generally speaking.

And to be cynics and say that really would have helpe NJ sarcastically shows narrowmindedness. First, we don't know that it wouldn't have had applications in NJ in certain areas and secondly, as it is used and observed, improvements and additions might be able to be made to develop better plugs or additional things that would help in conjuction with the plugs. No wonder repubs want to take us back in time (like Romeny who is not foward thinking at all).

 

[Sinjorri]

beware posters full blown ignorance is running rampant.