As the world sees it... Hurricane Gustav

The Times-Picayune

The scope of the evacuation was extraordinary even by the standard set by Hurricane Katrina, when some 800,000 residents evacuated. Governor Bobby Jindal and his staff, as well as federal and local officials, deserve praise for managing the logistics so well – and for being nimble when some things didn't work as expected. Gustav's approach was very different from Katrina's in August 2005... All of us have learned from that tragedy. And although another test of this sort is not what anyone would wish, there is a chance for redemption now for government at all levels. (Editorial)

Baton Rouge Advocate

Mayor Ray Nagin, whom we've often criticised, deserves a good word. He told people to get their butts out of town. Blunt, but it's the kind of language that might have reached people who would not have been persuaded by governmentese. We're glad he pushed so hard for a thorough evacuation.

That is encouraging, but we've been here before. The full impact of such a giant storm as Gustav is still to be felt. (Editorial)

Bihar floods

Times of India

What explains the callousness of the state administration in allowing the river to dictate terms to the people living on its banks? The first sign of breach in the Kosi's eastern embankment in Nepal happened on 18 August, but the state government woke up to it only a week later. Floods are annual features, and, indeed, that's reason enough for us to be prepared to face them. Yet, year after year, rivers in flood expose our faulty plans, breach embankments built at enormous cost, destroy lives and livelihoods, ravage farmland and wipe out communities.(Editorial)

Indian Express

Even as help pours in from all quarters – unions to panchayat associations, temple trusts and even a local television network – the sheer scale of the tragedy the marauding Kosi river has caused is making relief operations look woefully inadequate. (Amitabh Sinha)