Disaster Preparedness - Quick Response is Key

Many of the natural disasters that occur in ourThe Carriers would also serve as living quarters
country and in places around the world happen infor the repair operations workgroups. If
coastal areas. Hurricanes, Tsunamis,Tidal Wavesnecessary the ships could also be used as a
bring about disasterous results because of ourtemporary residence for stranded victims of the
failure to be able to respond in "Quick Time". Manydisaster. These Carriers can easily house 5000
of the life threatening injuries and illnesses alongplus people and more if reconfigured. They also
with the possibility of starvation could be betterhave medical and dining facilities to serve such a
dealt with if a system of quick disaster responsepopulation. Other benefits would be their water
to such disasters could be devised.desalination equipment for providing drinking water
Many times responders are hampered by blockedand generators that could help a as temporary
roads, rempant flooding, electrical failures, nopower source for the devastated communities.
potable water supplies and lack of living quartersThe workforce could be flown to the scene once
for the responders when they do arrive. Becausethe Carrier arrives and of course the workforce
of these problems responders are not able tocould be easily ferried to the worksites by
move in and set up relief stations on a timelyhelicopter and/or landing craft. Equipment and
basis.tools could also be delivered from the Carrier to
One solution would be to retrofit decommissionedthe worksites by landing craft or helicopter.
Aircraft Carriers and outfit them to be quickThe cost of retrofitting a Carrier for such
disaster response headquarters that could be onpurposes would be extremely expensive but the
constant alert readiness to move to any area ofpayback in terms of human lives saved and
the world where a major disaster occurs. Thesereduction in human suffering would be worth the
ships would be equipped with tools and equipmentcosts. There would also be the economic benefits
needed to do any and all types of repairs neededof getting the community's life back to normal
to bring the affected areas back to at leastmuch more quickly than the methods we have
limited operational status.employed in previous disasters such as Katrina.