The Problem with the Roman Empire Infrastructure, I mean US Infrastructure!

L’enfant plaza station

Last Friday, I went down to Washington DC to see for myself what is going on with the Metro in Washington DC. Was it terrorism or just plain negligence on the part of the government?  

 

Knowing Roman and US History, in my opinion, this looks too much like "opportunity" terrorism. That is when a disgruntle worker uses a crises to cause more harm in the situation.

The US like Rome in the 7th Century, everyone who was anyone was causing terrorism and the sacking of Rome. They spent so much on the military and fighting the Franks and Germans with foreign fighters that the government could not spend money on domestic public works.

Government could not keep its promise to provide and maintain public projects like roads and bridges in good working order. This same problem has hit the United States. Here is why the US has enemies around the world that the military has to protect us from. Here is why bridges collapse, roads and sewer lines fail.

Because people feel like the government does not care about workers, they can go to work and not care what happens. Every person for themselves is the order of the day.  Just like when the driver of the Metro car (in the way of the metro car in trouble,) walked away from their post that caused the death of a Metro passenger.  Sounds like when the gate keepers of Rome let the barbarians into the City.  No one can say what happened to the driver, why they left the car, or why they have not been interviewed and put in front of the media as I write this blog.

   The Yellow Line near Central Station had a fire under ground at rush hour.  

Here is what the news services are saying about the Metro Problem in Washington DC.

Smoke Filled Metro Car

 

I found the TUCSON CULTURE BLOG that talked about the problem and I must agree with them.

How could it tale 40 minutes to evacuate the train? http://t.co/mj3PgBvRHJ just awful. Never ever taking dc metro again.

The presumed electrical fire on a Washington, D.C., commuter rail line that left one person dead earlier this week and sent more than 80 to the hospital is under investigation, and as reporter Paul Wagner has found, a lot went terribly wrong during the rescue effort.

Two sources with knowledge of Metro incident say firefighter radios did not work inside tunnel. Officials used cell phones to get info out.

Sources say antennas inside tunnel were not working and had not been for several days. FF’s used line of sight communication and phones.

First arriving firefighters on Metro incident at L’enfant plaza station say exhaust fans were not immediately operational.

First arriving firefighters say there was no long delay in getting third rail turned off. So, why do passengers say they waited 40 minutes?

Document obtained by Fox 5 says passengers inside all but 2 of smoke filled Metro cars could NOT find handle to open doors.

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 13, 2015

Mayor Bowser says we will get to the bottom of what happened and fix it. pic.twitter.com/9NeOLNCURJ

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 13, 2015

 Document obtained by Fox 5 gives first hand account of train rescue–says emergency release handles were behind panel with screws.

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 14, 2015

 Timeline on Metro emergency at L’enfant raises a number of questions. Why did it take 6 minutes for 911 to dispatch firefighters to scene?

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 15, 2015

NEW: 3 sources confirm–driver of smoke filled Metro train could not back out of tunnel because new train blocking its path had NO driver.

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 16, 2015

Sources familiar with investigation say driver of train that pulled into smoke filled L’enfant station–abandoned the train.

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 16, 2015

Here’s more: the reason the driver abandoned the train is unclear. Was he/she ordered to? By police? By supervisor? or needed fresh air.

— Paul Wagner (@Fox5Wagner) January 16, 2015

The blame game is well underway.

Metro tragedy must be wake-up call for local leaders. This week’s incident exposes troublesome vulnerabilities & awful contingency planning.

— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) January 16, 2015

 

Smoke coming out of the metro tunnel

Other reports and conclusions

 

Fire Chief Jones refuses to answer questions about what may have caused the delay getting to passengers. pic.twitter.com/CQ0OCev4MI

— Matt Ackland (@mattacklandfox5) January 13, 2015

Thoughts are with all those affected by tragic events on Metro. I would await for full NTSB investigation so this will never happen again.

— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) January 13, 2015

.@SenatorBarb on #wmata incident: “Riders should not live in fear every time they step on a Metro train.”

— Emily Cahn (@CahnEmily) January 16, 2015

Riders of Metro need answers. As Dean of Congressional Delegation, I expect answers at next week’s briefing.

— Barbara Mikulski (@SenatorBarb) January 16, 2015

.@NTSB preliminary report on Monday’s deadly DC METRO rail smoke incident: Here’s the damaged third rail —-> pic.twitter.com/CdUwNlKlOU

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) January 16, 2015