1. Home
  2. Needlework Board
  3. OT: Why the delay

OT: Why the delay

formatting link
is just one of the news articles about the delay in aid to the gulf area. There are several emerging things that gripe me. It sounds like they are trying to pin this on Gov. Blanco (D) because she only said they needed everything they can get as soon as they can get it instead of asking for every specific thing from the correct department. And look at the early Guard deployment figures in the fourth paragraph; combine that with the figures of where people are being sheltered. Is W playing politics with the victims? Everything is being skewed to make it look like only Texas was willing to jump in immediately to help. I'm not saying the Texans wouldn't want to help of their own accord--it's just that so many others were just as willing but apparently were kept out for bureaucratic reasons. Sure, geography plays a part (Texas being a close state) but as the article points out help was going to be needed from far away just as much and the delay is causing a bottleneck for those who are still trying to arrive.

Then there are the leaders who say the race/ethnic/socioeconomic/age card is being played. I'm not certain they are completely wrong although I also don't know that they are completely right. Without doubt people died for every day of the delay and most of them fit into at least one (and sometimes all) of the following categories: poor, ill, black, elderly.

And we're supposed to clap because the president cut his vacation a couple of days short to finally get around to dealing with this...

Reply to
Brenda Lewis
Loading thread data ...

And the Canadian Air force is waiting on standby should the US request their assistance.

formatting link
"The CF has a number of assets which could be deployed should the UnitedStates ask for our assistance", said Gen Hillier. "Anything from severalCC-130 Hercules to assist in transporting anything into and out of the area,helicopters to assist in the transport of anything inside the area,electrical generators that would be put into place to generate electricity,water purification systems of which we have many to produce potable,drinkable water, small boats to travel around the coastal area, a fleetdiving unit that could work underwater, a communications package that couldfacilitate communication, and many other things." Lily

Reply to
lily

I used to work in Emergency Planning Canada, the rough equivalent of the US FEMA, so I know a little bit about disaster planning; so a bit of background about this subject in general; nothing specific on Katrina. First, the less likely a disaster is to happen, the worse its effect. If you attempt to plan for all possible disasters, it simply becomes too expensive; even for the USA. All you can plan for is a response to disasters in general, and hope the plans are adequate for the specific unlikely, major disaster when it actually happens. I think it is unfair at the moment to judge whether there were unnecessary delays in the emergency response. There may be some things that were such that a rapid response was not possible. It is by no means unusual in disaster response to do the wrong thing quickly, which in the end only delays getting the right response.

-- Jim Cripwell. A volante tribe of bards on earth are found,/ who, while the flattering zephyrs round them play,/ on "coignes of vantage" build their nests of clay;/ how quickly from that aery hold unbound,/ dust for oblivion!/ To the solid ground/ of nature trusts the mind that builds for aye. Wordsworth.

Reply to
F.James Cripwell

That's good bureaucracy at work of course.

Take a highway accident. Do you also sit in your car, assess the situation, decide whether calling an ambulance or a hearse is the best reaction.

I know I don't, I hit the asphalt dialling 911 and then see what I can begin to do right away. Minutes so often count, that Golden Hour which is spoken about.

The Golden Hour in NO was before Katrina hit. Much could have been done to evacuate the poorest and then this situation would hardly exist. I think a lot of ostrich heads went into the sand hoping it would never happen despite the good wisdom that it more than likely was going to happen. Now there is more delay in allowing people trained in disaster assistance to assist.

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

There was an article in yesterday's Chicago Tribune that stated "we" had a huge crew ready to deploy (firefighters, medical teams, counselors, construction, etc., I believe it said almost a thousand volunteers), but the only thing that FEMA wanted from "us" was a tank of some sort. The story online has been updated since yesterday's version and no longer gives specifics of what Mayor Daley's "laundry list" contained.

And I'm sure that Chicago isn't the only area within the United States that's offering significant assistance. But because that's sort of a local interest story, I'm seeing that instead of what Sacramento or New York or anyone else is offering.

Reply to
Jenn L

Yes, the finger-pointing and inuendo has begun. I've been watching coverage on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox (just so I get a full spectrum of issues and points of view). I had forgotten how melodramatic Geraldo Rivera is. :-)

Dianne

Reply to
Dianne Lewandowski

Funny - I asked the same question elsewhere! No one asked for or commandeered buses to move people away - far away - like a couple of counties. No forced evacuations. Nope, stuck them all in the sports arena!

The Army Corp of Engineers has know for decades that this would happen, even recommended plans and discouraged building up the areas along the Gulf Coast. (ditto Florida, the Outer Banks, etc)

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

It's frustrating isn't it ? I begin to think they must definitely get more women into these organisations. Women to move and shake instead of contemplating navels.

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.