In less than 1000 words, discuss your views on how well the United States government agencies are prepared to respond to the next call for disaster relief.
2007-01-10 08:12:20 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
We are not ready to respond to natural disasters and we never will be. The reason for this is that disasters are unpredictable. We can put a plan into place to respond to the levee in New Orleans breaking but it will probably never happen again.
The only way to avoid personal tragedy is to prepare yourself and be ready to be your own rescuer. I believe the reason that so many suffered in New Orleans is that they were depending on the government instead of themselves.
2007-01-10 08:21:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now here’s an interesting “rant”…. (had to pass this on)
Up here in the Northwest, we just recovered from a "Weather Event" with rain, and winds up to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists, closed roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to over a million people for as much as two or more weeks - over the Christmas Holidays.
FYI:
George Bush did not come.
FEMA did nothing.
No one howled for the government.
No one blamed the government.
No one even uttered an expletive on TV.
Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.
Our Mayor's did not blame Bush or anyone else.
Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either.
Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.
No one looted.
Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.
Nobody expected the government to do anything either.
No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera. No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Streisand, No Hollywood types to be found.
And Nope, we just weathered it out, and helped each other.
Local restaurants made food, and the police (when not doing traffic control at intersections due to traffic lights being out...) and fire departments delivered it to people in need.
The Red Cross was more than accommodating, as were numerous shelters.
Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.
We fired up wood stoves, broke out kerosene heaters and Coleman lanterns.
We put on an extra layer of clothes because that is the logical thing to do.
We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for sitt'in at home' checks.
We pretty much were determined to clean the mess up ourselves with a "have Chainsaw, will help clean up," attitude.
Why is it that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate."
2007-01-10 08:22:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Based upon 31 years in state government, doing analysis of operational procedures at various state agencies (in Virginia) - I would say ...you better be prepared yourself for anything you will need.
Reason is that too many managers are put into their jobs due to their political connections instead of their ability to understand a problem and to resolve it.
Top management doesn't want to hear of any problems, so the political appointees - will just say: I disagree with you - that isn't a problem. We don't need to do it.
80-90% of what you worry about never happens. So most of the time they are right. But when they are wrong, they will say its your fault - cause you did not convince me that it would be a problem.
Have even had them to say, I never told them.
In one case, I tape recorded our conversation. When I played the tape in a meeting to prove they were told, I was told I was being a wise a**; to destroy the tape; and that the failure was my fault for not convincing them there was a problem.
2007-01-10 09:01:55 · answer #3 · answered by John Hightower 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why should the government provide relief? How about we should be responsible for ourselves. Carry proper insurance, dont live in a flood zone if you cant afford to rebuild after a disaster. Stop whining when the wind knocks down your house and rebuild it, or at least be willing to learn how to do it instead of sitting on your butt wanting someone else to do it for you.
2007-01-10 08:21:56 · answer #4 · answered by bildymooner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only disaster relief we are ready for is the relief Democrats feel when their is a disaster they can blame on Bush.
2007-01-10 08:17:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think we are any more ready for a disaster than we were before 9/11 or hurricaine Katrina
2007-01-10 08:20:34 · answer #6 · answered by workinclassjane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judging on the most recent disaster I would say they are not prepared at all.
2007-01-10 08:16:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about doing your own homework.
2007-01-10 08:16:14 · answer #8 · answered by Chester's Liver 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋