It happens every year
 

Every year, we have a hurricane season. Every year, we have areas that receive damage. Would it be too much to ask for Army bases along the Gulf and South Atlantic to have emergency disaster relief plans ready every year? It's not like it never, ever happens.

The Power and Utilities Companies had trucks stocked and ready to roll into stricken areas BEFORE Katrina even hit land. Crews were already packed and ready to roll. They were on the road immediatly from hundreds of miles away. Why is it so hard for government agencies to move in the same manner? Is it perhaps that they expect the Red Cross and the Salvation Army to do everything that's needed? Those two agencies were also getting ready to roll ahead of time. AND THEY USE VOLUTEERS.

My understanding is that the National guard cannot act except on the request of the mayor/governor of the area involved. (Yes - naturally they should be ready to move and it's ridiculous that they weren't) but it is up to the local authorities to make requests - which apparently they didn;t bother to do.

And a city the size of New Orleans should certainly have an emergency management office (either they don;t or it's run by the mayor's brother in law) and standing plans for hurricane evacuation. Apparently they don;t - what me worry?

They should have been in touch with the army and FEMA at least two days before the hurricane struck - to make plans. They - apparently did nothing - but tell people to leave town - if they could do it on their own.

Why is it so hard for government agencies to move? It's called beaurocracy. It grows, it consumes it's own resources, it creates little "dictators" all jockying for their own position, protecting their own place in the higherarchy. It eventually becomes so big it is impotent and will collapse on itself. That's why the agencies can't move.

I'm sure I heard that the governor called up/requested from other states 10,000 National Guard members. We have to remember that, terrible and extreme as it is, New Orleans is not the only area needing help. As I pointed out on another thread, 4,000 Louisiana National Guards who are specifically trained to deal with the aftermath of hurricanes are all in Iraq.

The problem, aileen679, is that our military is 100% focused on Iraq and we do not have a secure homeland as a result.

Speaking as the wife of a former Guard officer who was activated for at least 2 hurricanes, I can say that the Guard is not called up for emergencies until it is requested by the state's governor. Furthermore, Guard units are not called to respond to disasters in their own immediate area because it creates problems if Guard members, who are trying to save heir own families/homes, are called up to go save someone else's family/home. So, Guard units would only be called from areas far away from the affected area. Unfortunately, it takes TIME and logistics to get everyone to the drill hall, get supplies together, get it onto trucks, and move out. Many of the roads leading into NO are destroyed, so moving in large convoys will take time, even for the Guard. It is not unusual for the Guard not to be there for at least 3 days.

The amount of Guard that is deployed in Iraq makes very little difference in diasaster response, as there are still units here in the US for exactly this purpose.

Yes, ChristieP. And the IL National Guard has already been down there for days.

So much misinformation is being put into these threads about our Nat. Guard and about political agendas that it is has been senseless to reply. There is a mind set that just wants to vent and blame, regardless of what the history of the area has been since the first "empathetic" Huey Long was in the picture.

Interesting discussion. Just think about the policemen, firemen, National Guard members, doctors, nurses, etc., etc. who work in New Orleans. How do you go on with your job when this is going on at home, if you can get to your job? That has to be tough.

I work at a hospital 'up north' and preparing our families for our absence during a crisis is built into the hospital's crisis plan.

The hurricane has made me think long and hard about this--could I really leave my husband and kids during a disaster, natural or otherwise? My head says yes but wow, it would be tough. The people who did just that have my utmost admiration.

Your question is completely wrong - let me explain.

I work for the Gov. I have all my adult life and some of my youth. University, Military, National Guard, Prison System, Natural Recourses. I speak as an insider.

The University System can spend about anything they want on what they want - They simply charge more to a captive customer. The "sheepskin" is how this system is set up so we pay the going rate. Period.

The Government System that you are talking about is a completely different situation.
All (most) of the "public" servants in charge of local operations were victims themselves. Who is assisting them as they swim for it so to speak? While the others swiming along side them are crying why don't you do something, would it be too much to ask?
The National Guard is YOU so to speak. So ponder how you are going to be ready at any moment to respond. And at the same time YOU must pay all bills and neglect all people and stuff that you are leaving and YOU must pay all costs for where you are going. (public servant role and taxpayer role and private responsibilities role) The National Guard is in a very bad situation. Think it through.
The Military. One half of this Countries United States Navy Seabees are stationed in Gulfport Miss! What happened to them? What are they doing? Who is going to serve in their relief? If they serve who is going to pay for it? I do not want to pay for it (stay tune for my later comment) REMEMBER SOME OF THEM JUST GOT BACK FROM FIGHTING A WAR IN IRAQ! AND SOME ARE NOW GOING! The military often assists in these areas but again the cost is on YOU. It is not free and it is not easy.

All that money - What money? A local prison sells Soda and Candy bars to raise money for "Emergency Response Unit" personnel training! Every prison dime is cried about by the taxpayer on one hand and crime activities are cried about on the other.

I said your question is completely wrong - let me explain.
Let me grow very COLD and unsympathetic. THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG MUST WE PAY AND BE READY TO PAY FOR OTHER PEOPLES BEHAVIOR?
I QUOTE: "Every year, we have a hurricane season. Every year, we have areas that receive damage. Would it be too much to ask for Army bases along the Gulf and South Atlantic to have” I SAY WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR US TO COLLECTIVELY WAKE UP AND CHANGE BEHAVIOR? Stop this REPETITIVE behavior. There was another post "will New Orleans be rebuilt” I say yes and then we will be doing this all over again. AND PEOPLE WILL BE DYING ALL OVER AGAIN And you and I will pay for it ALL OVER AGAIN. Yes, it happens every year. Would it be too much to ask... NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WE MUST REBUILD! I know it is not so simple.

Everyone complaining about no one is doing anything, should live in South Arkansas.

On Tuesday, a convoy of electric trucks left from somewhere, they travel thru our town to get to Louisiana and Mississippi as there are no interstates going from here to there.

Wednesday Disaster relief trucks littered every parking lot, stopped to rest, eat go to the bathroom etc.

Thursday the first load of grey hound buses stopped in our town, 5 buses so full people were standing in them. They passed tree service and more electrical trucks and Nat'l Guard trucks going South. (My son is a Nat'l Guard member, he has been in IRAQ 9 months) THEY cannot believe what has happened here.

On Friday more buses, now coming from both directions as Houston said no more.

Pilots from Arkansas are flying into available airports in their own small planes and taking the sick out.

The people staying in our convention center were robbed and five cars stolen off the parking lot.
It is unknown if the locals did this or the refugees.

Our town is feeding, clothing, housing the people who arrive here. our population is expected to increase by 20,000.

Just because we didn't leave home doesn't mean we haven't done anything.

What have you done?