Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Katrina and FEMA

Dr. Dan,

(btw, what is your degree in?)

In your considered opinion, was not the New Orleans “disaster response” by the Federal and State governments shameful at best? What went wrong or should I ask what didn’t go wrong? How can we know if our home, our city, our nation is ever truly prepared for something REALLY big?

Lefty

Hello Lefty,

Thanks for your questions.
  1. (btw, what is your degree in?)

    I have multiple degrees: computer science, writing, and a masters degree from the Universal School of A&E (that's age and experience).
  2. Was not the New Orleans “disaster response” by the Federal and State governments shameful at best?

    It WAS shameful. People died unnecessarily. Thousands were left homeless. But remember that America is a "for-profit state." The Federal and State Gov's response to Katrina is what it was. That being said, the disaster - whatever it is - begins in your neighborhood. Those in the epicenter must act as as if they are on an island; you must become self-sufficient. Next, the city / community will help out. Then, if possible, the county will render aid. Then the state. And finally the Fed. Please note also that FEMA - that agency which took so much heat - is NOT a responding agency. It exists simply to organize resources. It's emergency "management," not emergency response.
  3. What went wrong or should I ask what didn’t go wrong?

    There's no doubt that a lot went wrong. Beginning in 1718 with the French building a settlement on a patch of land not much higher than sea level. This idiocy is quite analogous to building (and re-building and re-building) on a hurricane-prone coast-line or earthquake fault-line or in a floodplain. While humans continue to ignore common sense, Katrina-like events and ineffective response will continue to happen.
  4. How can we know if our home, our city, our nation is ever truly prepared for something REALLY big?

    REALLY big is a REALLY relative term, my friend. REALLY big to me means M-1762 - an asteroid the size of Texas - hits the third rock from the Sun. In that case, my response protocol is simple: be penitent of my sins and drink heavily. My father's generation worried about nuclear Armageddon. My grandfather worried about the Great Depression. His father before him worried about Polio. Every generation has its own worries. Get the picture?

    Unfortunately, you can't know if you're REALLY safe. What you can do is prepare yourself and your loved ones. The fact of the matter is that - as I mentioned in my 2nd answer above - you have to think of yourself (and your family) as an island. Sad as it is, no one will look out for you more than you will.

    So, YOU need to develop (and implement) your own emergency response and recovery plan. It's pretty simple. Go to ready.gov for guidance and help.

Thanks for your questions. I hope this helps.

DR Dan

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