Rant On:
Last week I attended the Maryland State Swift/Flood Water summit, in part sponsored by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). I t has been recognized since hurricane Floyd that the state is ill prepared to handle such events and despite legislation to have a state wide plan and associated resources and despite being hit by Hurricane Isabelle, we still lack a plan that is truly effective.

Currently FEMA does not have a strong plan of action for swift/flood water response, although Katrina was a major wake up call, progress is slow at best. Other then CA, TX and NC, most states are well behind the times in planning, resource development and training. Most flash flooding events are local in nature, so regional and state emergency management agencies leave planning up to local municipalities. Flooding, especially due to hurricanes are defiantly regional in nature and often impact several state EMAs and few are truly prepared.

Funding for equipment, training and supplies especially since 9/11 have gone towards terrorism response. While it is true, the potential for devastation from a terrorist act could be enormous, daily more people more are affected and have lost both property and lives due to flooding. However, both the public and the politicians, unless floods directly affect them, continue to ignore the problem. Building continues, resulting in loss of ground water absorption and most localities continue to look to home building as tax revenue generators. Whether you believe in Global Warming and if so, regardless if it manmade or the result of natural forces, costal communities over the next 20+ years are in greater danger from flooding then ever before.

Unfortunately, it is going to take several more disasters of epic proportion before the matter is adequately addressed.

Rant Off-
Pete