| First there was 9/11, then Katrina and Rita. We've | | | | 2) Our first Responders had a disaster too ! The |
| all seen the pictures, and heard the horror stories | | | | same flooded roads, power outages etc. that are |
| of what happened when people were caught | | | | making your life miserable are slowing down the |
| unable to keep their families operating even for a | | | | ability of first responders to get you the help you |
| few hours. Some of this was unavoidable. After all | | | | need. Granted they do have larger trucks, and |
| if your home is under 20 feet of flood water, or | | | | other equipment that helps, but it still may take |
| just plain gone you need an immediate place to be | | | | them longer than usual to get to you, and there is |
| etc. But if your biggest problem is the electricity is | | | | only so much of it. |
| out, your probably going to have to wait. This is | | | | 3) Volume of Service Requests. Most first |
| where preparing our homes and families makes a | | | | response agencies are used to dealing with |
| big difference in how well they get through a | | | | situations involving a handful of people at once. |
| disaster. | | | | During a disaster they deal with hundreds or |
| Naturally during such times we depend on first | | | | thousands of people needing help all at once. |
| responders from government, and groups such as | | | | Everybody can't be first. Priorities have to be set, |
| the American Red Cross to come to our aid. | | | | and they are constantly changing. Add to this the |
| They do so, and usually they do so very well. But | | | | "dual use of equipment" Some places use fire |
| getting help to those that need it during a large | | | | trucks to rescue people who are flooded, and |
| scale emergency takes time, and everybody can't | | | | need to be evacuated. However if a fire breaks |
| be first. So each individual, and family must be | | | | out when the fire truck is on its way to you, |
| able to do what they can to prepare themselves | | | | obviously the fire truck will be diverted to the fire. |
| for the first hours or days following a disaster. | | | | 4) Outside help is not immediate ! FEMA |
| Currently the Department of Homeland Security | | | | Department of Homeland Security are not 911 ! |
| recommends that American households aim to be | | | | State and federal agencies do plan ahead. Often |
| self sufficient for up to 72 hours following a | | | | they have people and supplies on alert if there is |
| disaster. Those 72 hours allows your family to | | | | advance notice. However these resources must |
| function while additional resources are brought in | | | | be staged a great distance away. This is so they |
| to finish the job. | | | | will not accidentally get caught up in the disaster |
| One of the hardest things for someone | | | | itself. Don't forget that during Hurricane Rita |
| recovering from a disaster to understand is why | | | | projected landfall changed from Houston to |
| does it take so long to get them the help they | | | | Beaumont with less than 24 hours before landfall. |
| need ? Admittedly during Katrina/Rita mistakes | | | | Some people who evacuated to the Beaumont |
| were made that slowed response, especially at | | | | area actually got caught in the brunt of the storm |
| the federal level. However even when the | | | | instead ! Agencies at the federal level also have to |
| response effort runs perfectly (it never does) | | | | wait for local governments to tell them how much |
| response can only be accomplished so fast. I | | | | of what kinds of help are needed. |
| want to look at a few reasons why. | | | | Even in the best of circumstances those who |
| 1) The situation must be evaluated. Every disaster | | | | respond in times of crisis are going to need time |
| is different. Emergency responders never exactly | | | | to get to everybody. Extra bottled water, extra |
| know what they are dealing with until after the | | | | batteries, food that doesn't need to be cooked |
| disaster has already happened or is happening. | | | | aren't just good ideas during hurricane season. |
| How many homes are flooded ? How many | | | | Other things happen too. In fact these simple |
| without power ? How many roads are blocked/ | | | | steps we take 6 months out of every year |
| damaged. All these questions need to be | | | | would help a lot in the event of a bio-terrorism |
| answered before we even know how much of | | | | attack etc. . I've been telling people for years that |
| what kind of help needs to be where. Prior history | | | | it is always hurricane season ! Preparedness is |
| can give us some idea but there are always | | | | essential for the safety of our families. No matter |
| surprises. Obviously fires and other immediate | | | | what the weather, no matter what the time of |
| threats to life must be dealt with immediately at | | | | year preparedness simply must become a part of |
| the same time as this evaluation process is | | | | our common culture. It must become that basic |
| ongoing. | | | | to all of us. |