Fuel Costs and Air Fares Set To Rocket After Hurricane Katrina Punishes The US

It now looks certain that Hurricane Katrina will push fuel prices - and air fares - up through the roof.

Hurricane Katrina has just killed hundreds of people, and it could well be thousands of people that we don't know about already. But now the awful diseases we've all heard of in Third World countries - Cholera and Typhoid - look all set to hit flood affected areas in Alabama, Louisiana and the Mississippi.

Fuel costs are going to skyrocket...

The chances of the US getting their fuel production back to normal quickly now have disappeared. The US has two giant disasters to try and cope with. The Hurricane/Flood and it's associated damage and public health dangers. And now a major interruption to the nation's fuel supplies.

It might have taken a month to get fuel supplies in the US back to normal if Hurricane Katrina were a mere run-of-the mill disaster. But it wasn't. Hurricane Katrina looks like she's the biggest natural calamity the US has ever faced. There are hundreds of thousands of people displaced, and that's mind-boggling.

Even with the vast wealth the United States has at its disposal, the world's biggest military machine and some of the world's top civil defense and rescue specialists, the US has a really tough road ahead to help the people of the affected southern states, and especially New Orleans and Biloxi.

The US still needs its fuel, so world fuel prices, and everyone else's air fares are likely to hit heights we've never seen before... and heaven only knows how long fuel prices will stay high.

There are just too many factors in the big puzzle.

The immediate victims of Hurricane Katrina are the hundreds, maybe thousands, who have died already. But the displaced survivors now face an even bigger danger... from water-borne disease.

Here we have people from the world's richest country who have suddenly found themselves faced by a common Third World danger.

The survivors are in an environment with contaminated water. You can't drink the water anymore because it's contaminated by sewage, bodies and toxic chemicals. And with everything flooded, how will anyone boil water to make it safe to drink?

How will the Hurricane Katrina survivors maintain personal cleanliness (vital to keep off diseases) and how will they get safe food?

Electricity is down in thousands of homes, so many have no cooking, lighting, fuel or even communications... That is a disaster I don't think the US has faced before.

Shelter and drinking water are the first priorities now for the survivors. (Most people don't realize a healthy human being can last up to one whole month without any food at all.) It's not fun and I don't recommend it to anyone. But it is possible.

But you can only last two days without drinking water, and maybe less without shelter from the elements.

Katrina has been a disaster for the USA, and now it could well be an end to cheap fuel prices that we've taken for granted. You can expect air fares to start going up almost immediately as well.

If you're thinking of air travel now, I don't know if there are any cheap air fares left. Parhaps it's the time to grab yours now.

David Harvey is a retired journalist who lives in Sydney Australia. He is the publisher of several websites including http://www.dirt-cheap-airline-tickets.info - a great source for the cheapest air fares on the web.

You are free to use this article in a newsletter or on your website as long as the resource box and the link to my website remains intact and clickable. (You must have a clickable link that humans and the search engine spiders can follow.)

---

Secrets to Finding Really Cheap Airline Tickets Online

Knowing where to find really cheap airline tickets is the... Read More

Starting an Aircraft Washing Business

So you love airplanes and you want to start an... Read More

Cactus Fly-In, Casa Grande AZ

Every year in Arizona is the Cactus Fly-in which is... Read More

Preventing Rapid Decompression In Commercial Airliners

In Flight Airline Rapid Decompression Breached Window (Airline Safety)Here is... Read More

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Two

The continuation of the history of a small service franchise... Read More

Tips to Finding Really Cheap Airline Tickets

Finding really cheap airline tickets onlineLooking for a really good... Read More

Really Cheap Plane Tickets

To begin with, the best place to buy really cheap... Read More

Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part III

What caused a teenager to crash an aircraft into the... Read More

Moving Troops and Evacuation Strategies

There are many ways to evacuate people from disasters like... Read More

Mexico to Manufacture Aircraft

It appears Mexico with its 120 million population is considering... Read More

Concorde Crash Conspiracy - It Could Have Been Prevented

In studying the Concorde crash the investigators determined it was... Read More

Budget Airlines ? Cheap Airfares for Flights around Europe can Reduce Your Vacation Costs

Here's a good tip to help cut the cost of... Read More

Hypersonic or Ultrasonic Sound to Disrupt Laser Beam Attack on Commercial Airliners

In large buildings to prevent sound pollution often double paned... Read More

Essential Oil Skin Care Tips for Frequent Fliers

Are you one of those people that has lots and... Read More

Inflatable Aircraft Wing Camber Modification

Every aircraft is a compromise. It is either built to... Read More

Flying With Your Dog

A pet owner must research the many requirements before taking... Read More

Jet Lag ? 5 Pre-travel Steps to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag

Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying... Read More

Common Cockpit Concepts and Convenient Configurations

One of the big pushes in aviation and military is... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part III: Training Options

Time for some training! So, you are not sure what... Read More

Business Aviation Networking Notes

The process of finding out about a job, getting interviewed,... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part II: Pay Rates for Flight Attendants

Pay. You know that aviation pays better than commercial, in... Read More

Private Jets: 4 Leaders in Fractional Flying

Fractional flying, you say. Is that division? Well, sort of.... Read More

Increasing TAS in Modern Day Fighters with Expandable Wing Tips

As fighter aircraft get faster and faster there is a... Read More

General Aviation Manufacturing is in the Tank; Hang On It is Going to Get Worse

Change is a constant, Outsourcing Jobs, Capital flows, Emerging Markets... Read More

First Class Airfare: How the Rich Travel

Have you ever wondered what all entails first class airfare,... Read More

How Cheap Can You Get? Try Online for Cheap Air Tickets

Most consumers feel the airline travel is very costly. We... Read More

Future Shuttle Launches

The military aircraft we have are all equipped with anti-SAM... Read More

Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times

Key Travel TipsFollowing these tips will help you reduce your... Read More

FAA Intervention in Privatized Space Flight is Ridiculous

Burt Rutan and his team of designers, engineers and test... Read More

What Causes Jet Lag?

Jet lag is a common sleep disorder suffered by many... Read More

How to Get a Free Airline Upgrade on Your Flight

Everyone wants to buy a cheap economy ticket and get... Read More

Fighter Jet Trainers Sport Planes

You want a fighter jet as your personal aircraft; do... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part I: Types of Aircraft

The jets that people fly in corporate aviation are usually... Read More