Natalie Williams

I posted the following article and received answers on why should we care about something that happened over 30 years ago? [http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.html].

I also posted an article about Hurricane Sandy. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/features/wallops-sandy.html

Reaction 1. We don’t want another city to repeat one of the worst environmental disasters in American history. Sounds like a curse to me.I find it amazing that the land was put up for sale at the price of a single dollar.

Reaction 2. We need to learn about this so we know not to repeat it. I've come to the conclusion that this disaster was primarily the result of the overzealous and possibly unscrupulous school board, city planners and engineers. Had Hooker Chemical had their way, the site would have been permanently zoned as a park and forbidden from development and intrusion and likely would not have leaked. 

Reaction 3. I am shocked by this article. I had no idea that such a thing happened in the United States. We need to spread the word about this event so that it won’t happen again. 

Reaction 4. The lessons we are learning from this disaster is a warning for governments at all levels and for private industry to take steps to avoid a repetition of these tragic events. They must also serve as a reminder to be ever watchful for the tell-tale signs of potential disasters and to look beyond our daily endeavors and plan for the wellbeing of future generations

Reaction 5. So we can learn that there should never be homes or a school, sewer lines or anything below ground built within a quarter mile of a place with that kind of waste. Period.

Reaction 6. From this disaster a country was changed. We pay attention, or are required to pay attention, to what happens with toxic chemicals at construction sites. We have awareness that toxic waste is not right.

Reaction 7. To make sure it wont happen again

Reaction 8. We need to learn about the Love Canal disaster so that history does not repeat itself. We don’t want another incident of building homes over another toxic waist dump. 

Reaction 9. We need to learn what not to do. It is important to learn about disasters in our environment so that we know how we need to take care of our environment. We need to think about what kind of waste we are putting into it and learn ways to protect and take care of it. 

Reaction 10. We learn from our mistakes hopefully. Love canal provided impetus to examine industrial waste and how it is handled. We now have to contend with organo-chemicals. These when two or more organo chemicals are combined may create new chemicals which we know nothing about.

It is suspected there are possibly hundreds of chemical dumps which may only surface when a residential area begins having miscarriages and birth defects like Love Canal

My Questions Answered:

1. Do you believe that environmental crises affect you/your family today?

I think an environmental crisis can affect me and my family today. I believe that it happens when we least expect it and we should be prepared for anything that can come our way. 

2. Based on the impact environmental tragedies affect you/your family how likely are you to take action against disasters like this one?

Disasters like the Love Canal can be prevented. To take actions against ones like these we need to spread the word on protection of out environment. We also need to be prepared for any natural disaster by keeping an emergency food and water supply. 

3. Why should we care about something that happened over 30 years ago?

It is important for us to know about this event that happened over 30 years ago because it can teach us what not to do in the future. We need this knowledge of the past so that it won’t happen again in the future. We need to be more careful about where we build houses and schools.