Our daughter and I are training up with ARC and will deployable by Tuesday evening. Today the gabble around the local RC chapter was that they (FEMA?) are changing the guidance for disaster prep from 72 hour kit to 7 - 10 days, meaning do not expect any help for that long on future large scale disasters. Has anyone heard anything about that, perhaps on the news? Between work and RC training I haven't caught the news for some time.

I'll try to get more definite information tomorrow at training.

Tom

I think it's about as clear as in the past, that given competent and properly-managed emergency response, 72 hours is generally enough. The long delays in this recent hurricane incident are due to political problems (I'll stay out of pointing at specific politicians) and the correct remedy is fix those problems. Like if your emergency plan involves storing five water bottles and when the emergency hits, four of them turn out to be empty, the correct remedy for the next emergency is make sure they're full. The incorrect remedy is to revise your plan to specify storing 25 bottles so you can deal with 20 of them being empty.

About time.

When an ice storm hit here back, oh, must be seven years now, there were people who were basically cut off other by foot or snowmachine for 5 days. Unless it is in DC, southern California or the greater NYC area, and maybe Chicago, I don;t expect much to be on scene for 5 days, just becuase of the pencil pushers and thier personality deficencies.

Yes, that's the memo we got. 7-10 Days before you can expect "full operational support" and that is "by request" not "as needed"

Just FYI.

I think that increasing the guidlines from 72 hours to 7-10 days is very commendable, long overdue, and I applaud any public official who has the cajones to stand up and so state.

The louder the better.

I mean it.

Regards, Vince

Martin,

What is the original source of the memo you mentioned?

I was almost stunned when I heard the rumor - how practical and realistic. But I still do not know if it is true.

This probably has the politically-minded preparedness folks going nuts, whatever their political tendancies may be. 72 hours is almost trivial to be prepared for - knowledge and ability being able to compensate for much procrastination, if nothing else. Depending on individual circumstances, preparedness for 10 days means no-foolin' actual preparation. <Insert comment about society here>

It will take folks at agencies like FEMA a lot of work to change all the published detailed guidance for Joe Sixpack from 72 hours to 10 days. Many wild guesses in my mind about why they do not at least have a headline or news blip on the FEMA site about pending change - if, in fact, what I heard is accurate and originates with FEMA.

I am skeptical about any cabinet-level federal agency actually going public with a 7-10 day preparedness guideline. Cynicism or realism? Doesn't matter. My respect for any level of government goes to negative numbers as soon as politics begins directly influencing policy and action.

TIA,

Tom

"My respect for any level of government goes to negative numbers as soon as politics begins directly influencing policy and action"

Different day .... different country .... saaaaaaaaame feeling <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PaulJr,

1. After a major disaster like Katrina (or Charlie or Ivan or Floyd or ...) there were many places that were virturally inaccessible for a week or more.

2. Even with good advanced planning and even good forecasting (like hurricanes) there will be a delay to the initial response. The first responders are victims if the disaster, just like everyone else.

3. There are certain legal constraints, too. In the U.S., the Federal Government must wait for specific requests from the affected State(s) - fact of life.

4. A discussion on politics and incompetence would likely swamp the available bandwith for this board - suffice to say that neither is acceptable in disaster/survival situations.


Be Safe

JimJr

Your mileage may vary, price not including tax, title and license, some assembly required, slippery when wet, batteries not included, if you can read your are much too close...