Katrina Response Mismanagement - Page 12

scaeagles · 09-09-2005, 01:45 PM

I am just wondering how anyone can be prepared for all possible scenarios.

I could store up tons of clean water. However, if I have to leave in a hurry, what good does having a couple hundred gallons of clean water do for me? Impractical to transport.

I could have a fire evacuation plan for my family if our house catches on fire. In fact, I do. However, if the fire starts in the garage, which two of my three children have rooms over, and happens to spread to the roof of the garage outside their windows and the hallway outside their rooms, I'm screwed. No way to get them out. (smoke alarms would alert me before the access was cut off, but I'm just hypothesizing about what could go wrong.)

I have several drivable evacuation routes from the city. However, pulling out of my driveway, I can only go two directions. What if my road is impassable?

I have some relatives and friends I can stay with locally. What if their homes are as drastically affected as mine is by some cataclysmic event - such as a nuclear bomb exploding?

There is no way for me to plan for every possible scenario. If I cannot plan for every possible scenario for my own family's well being and safety, how can the government of any locality be expected to do it for millions of people in a metropolitan area?

This is not to say that things could not have been done better pre and post disaster in Louisiana.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-09-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

There is no way for me to plan for every possible scenario. If I cannot plan for every possible scenario for my own family's well being and safety, how can the government of any locality be expected to do it for millions of people in a metropolitan area?

Of course you can't prepare for everything. But this is a case of preparing for nothing. The events that happened in New Orleans played out almost blow-for-blow exactly as it was predicted. Heck, it happened once before in 1927, just ask Randy Newman. There have been YEARS to prepare for this exact scenario, and instead not one agency from the top to the bottom was prepared in the least.

Morrigoon · 09-09-2005, 01:58 PM

scaeagles: obviously it makes sense to plan for the most likely scenarios, and then have a general sketch of a plan for "unforseen" events, most of which you hope can take place under whatever the circumstances might be.

For example, in one thought I'd come up with elsewhere, I said that every city ought to choose locations, both within the metropolitan area and some on the fringe of it, designated as "disaster centers" Maps to these centers ought to be widely published in the front sections of phone books, just like stadium/arena seating is. Each location should be equipped with 2 generators in different spots (such as one on/near the roof, and one in the basement, etc). Each location should also be equipped with a portable cell antenna, which could be set up and hooked up to the generators to allow communications. Also, each location ought to have wireless internet access ability - so that emergency workers can race in, armed with laptops, and be able to keep communications open.

Every major metropolitan area ought to plan and designate a location for a "citizen volunteer" center. This would be a place that local people can report to in very short time in order to be the "first line" of help before properly trained help (nat'l guard, red cross, etc) can get there. One or two disaster response people should be assigned to the volunteer center to organize them and to communicate with more "official" groups and their leadership. That way, bands of volunteers can be dispatched out to help anywhere they're needed, and quickly. It would also be where people with enough to spare can make donations, which would help tremendously when there is a wait for outside help.

So let's say that a city (like here) expects earthquakes, but instead gets hit with... oh heck, let's say nuclear attack. All the city's disaster response locations are decimated. But you know what? People can go to the next city, look at a phone book at any public phone, and immediately know where to go for help.

It's unreasonable for every single agency of the government to try and make people learn every fact about something like this - but quite reasonable to only expect them to learn where to find the info they need. And phone books are everywhere.

Nephythys · 09-09-2005, 02:05 PM

It's a wake up call that has been going off since 1989 when Charleston complained about FEMA response after Hugo.

FEMA did not become a beauracratic red tape nightmare under Bush and Brown.....when the alarm has been going off for 16 years it might be time to pay attention.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-09-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephythys

FEMA did not become a beauracratic red tape nightmare under Bush and Brown.....when the alarm has been going off for 16 years it might be time to pay attention.

Well, in 1994 it seemed progress had been made. I remember FEMA being very responsive and useful during the Northridge EQ recovery period.

Nephythys · 09-09-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Well, in 1994 it seemed progress had been made. I remember FEMA being very responsive and useful during the Northridge EQ recovery period.

seems like most of the complaints and issues have been focused on FEMA response in the south- hurricane response specifically.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-09-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephythys

seems like most of the complaints and issues have been focused on FEMA response in the south- hurricane response specifically.

Well then it's probably not a good thing that since Homeland Security got control of FEMA there hasn't been a single hurricane drill in the department.

Nephythys · 09-09-2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Well then it's probably not a good thing that since Homeland Security got control of FEMA there hasn't been a single hurricane drill in the department.

Probably not-though just as clearly this is a long term issue

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-09-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephythys

It's a wake up call that has been going off since 1989 when Charleston complained about FEMA response after Hugo.

FEMA did not become a beauracratic red tape nightmare under Bush and Brown.....when the alarm has been going off for 16 years it might be time to pay attention.

FEMA did a fantastic job during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, when hundreds of homes and apartments were declared unlivable. Rescue, food, water, and shelter was there instantly. No one ever complained about the government response to that emergency on ANY level.

ETA - he beat me to it

Prudence · 09-09-2005, 03:08 PM

While one can't prepare for every scenario, I believe that preparing for some scenarios (or even one scenario) develops a method of approaching disasters that can be applied to new situations.

09-09-2005, 01:45 PM	#1
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I am just wondering how anyone can be prepared for all possible scenarios. I could store up tons of clean water. However, if I have to leave in a hurry, what good does having a couple hundred gallons of clean water do for me? Impractical to transport. I could have a fire evacuation plan for my family if our house catches on fire. In fact, I do. However, if the fire starts in the garage, which two of my three children have rooms over, and happens to spread to the roof of the garage outside their windows and the hallway outside their rooms, I'm screwed. No way to get them out. (smoke alarms would alert me before the access was cut off, but I'm just hypothesizing about what could go wrong.) I have several drivable evacuation routes from the city. However, pulling out of my driveway, I can only go two directions. What if my road is impassable? I have some relatives and friends I can stay with locally. What if their homes are as drastically affected as mine is by some cataclysmic event - such as a nuclear bomb exploding? There is no way for me to plan for every possible scenario. If I cannot plan for every possible scenario for my own family's well being and safety, how can the government of any locality be expected to do it for millions of people in a metropolitan area? This is not to say that things could not have been done better pre and post disaster in Louisiana.
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09-09-2005, 01:58 PM	#3
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	scaeagles: obviously it makes sense to plan for the most likely scenarios, and then have a general sketch of a plan for "unforseen" events, most of which you hope can take place under whatever the circumstances might be. For example, in one thought I'd come up with elsewhere, I said that every city ought to choose locations, both within the metropolitan area and some on the fringe of it, designated as "disaster centers" Maps to these centers ought to be widely published in the front sections of phone books, just like stadium/arena seating is. Each location should be equipped with 2 generators in different spots (such as one on/near the roof, and one in the basement, etc). Each location should also be equipped with a portable cell antenna, which could be set up and hooked up to the generators to allow communications. Also, each location ought to have wireless internet access ability - so that emergency workers can race in, armed with laptops, and be able to keep communications open. Every major metropolitan area ought to plan and designate a location for a "citizen volunteer" center. This would be a place that local people can report to in very short time in order to be the "first line" of help before properly trained help (nat'l guard, red cross, etc) can get there. One or two disaster response people should be assigned to the volunteer center to organize them and to communicate with more "official" groups and their leadership. That way, bands of volunteers can be dispatched out to help anywhere they're needed, and quickly. It would also be where people with enough to spare can make donations, which would help tremendously when there is a wait for outside help. So let's say that a city (like here) expects earthquakes, but instead gets hit with... oh heck, let's say nuclear attack. All the city's disaster response locations are decimated. But you know what? People can go to the next city, look at a phone book at any public phone, and immediately know where to go for help. It's unreasonable for every single agency of the government to try and make people learn every fact about something like this - but quite reasonable to only expect them to learn where to find the info they need. And phone books are everywhere. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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09-09-2005, 02:05 PM	#4
Nephythys Yeah, that's about it- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a state of constant crap to get done Posts: 2,688	It's a wake up call that has been going off since 1989 when Charleston complained about FEMA response after Hugo. FEMA did not become a beauracratic red tape nightmare under Bush and Brown.....when the alarm has been going off for 16 years it might be time to pay attention.
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09-09-2005, 03:08 PM	#10
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	While one can't prepare for every scenario, I believe that preparing for some scenarios (or even one scenario) develops a method of approaching disasters that can be applied to new situations. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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