WP: "Asleep At the Switch -- We're Not Prepared"

On the first page of today's Washington Post op-ed section. The placement is certainly a positive. It's concise. Doesn't get much into how one should prepare but makes the case that everyone should be. You'd think DC citizenry would be all over this stuff, but few are. One of the root problems of the failed Hurricane Katrina evacuation was the fact that so many people in New Orleans didn't own cars. The percentage of DC residents who don't own cars is significantly higher. So many people I know here rely on the subway system and zip.car to rent a car for a couple hours to do errands. Good luck finding one of those in a crisis. I won't be inclined to pick up hitchhikers. And I won't have any room.


ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH
It's an Emergency. We're Not Prepared.

By John D. Solomon
Sunday, May 18, 2008; Page B01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...id=opinionsbox1

excerpts:

"Even after Sept. 11, 2001, even after Hurricane Katrina, a Red Cross survey last year found that 93 percent of Americans aren't prepared for a major calamity -- a natural disaster, a pandemic or a terrorist attack. This is troubling, because the more prepared a population is, the more effective the response to and recovery from a catastrophe will be."

"Readying the public for the likely emergencies of the 21st century may be one of the most complex social-education challenges the nation has faced. Americans have to prepare for a range of threats, many of which the government can neither describe nor predict. Says George Foresman, former undersecretary for preparedness with the Department of Homeland Security, "There's no playbook for any of us to go by."

"History has shown that individuals will rise to the occasion in an emergency. But offering them the information, training, technology, support and encouragement to prepare in advance means that they'll be in the best position to help themselves, their families and their community if -- but probably when -- that emergency arrives.

jsolomon@incaseofemergencyblog.com

John D. Solomon is writing a book about emergency preparedness and blogs at www.incaseofemergencyblog.com. [b][/b]

I know that my county (SW FL) holds it's school bus drivers to be "essential personel" during an emergency (ie hurricane) and as such are required to stay 'in county' when TSHTF. They have it set up so that the busses can be used for those who can't drive. Our county commissioners are very proactive in the emergency preparedness area.

you want an example of poor planning when i asked my local authority about it's emergency plans they said all they had where plans drawn up in 1957. i know we don't have Hurricanes here in the UK but the stiff upper lip only goes so far.

What is needed is money and the willingness to think about something unpleasant. Stocks of things like potable water aren't as sexy as a federal office building named after some Congresscritter, so there is no special request for it. And you can scare people into thinking you are doing something hush-hush like bioweapons easier than actually do something about actually figuring out how to evacuate a half million people in 48 hours.

Maybe the plan is to wait 48 hours after the bioweapons, to help decrease the traffic on the road?

We were talking about this today in my psychiatry treatment team (no, I'm on the treating, not treated, side). Where does "preparing" become "paranoia" in today's (USA) environment? No firm answers, but kind of an interesting back-and-forth with the attending and resident.

Everyone is paranoid, everyone had phobias, everyone has neurosis, everyone has fetishes, everyone has... ad nasuem.

It becomes medically significant when it interferes with your ability to live and function in society. When you make the choice to prepare for XYZ rather than put food on the table and pay the rent, it isn't healthy. Until then, it is a hobby.

Put another way, if you go through a case of beer a month, you like beer. If you go through a case a day, you have a problem. :P

OR, you just really like beer ???

Florida's responses are very impressive! Would that all states were so prevention/preparation minded.

In my state, CERT is a big deal. Through our church they encourage us to take the class. I know CERT isn't that in-depth, but at least it serves to organize an incident response team to be able to take some load off of the professionals. And, as we've seen countless times, that first 48 to 72 hours, the professionals may not be around.

yes i concur,i am considered part of the oil/gas infrastructure therefore it is frowned upon if i am not available during a hurricane situation..... it is utmost importance my company keep oil and gas distribution going in sofla with that mentioned every oil company has made more than enough preps back up gens... so when the lights go out we can keep delivering..............

Preparedness is good. I think everyone should prepare as well as they can. But, nobody is ever really prepared. In the end you prepare for the wrong events, your carefully stored reserves are lost or you simply can't get to them.

Plans are broken and you end up having to patch and fit and cover the gaps with whatever remains. Your ingenuity and ability to improvise and adapt will be your greatest asset.

Art....Thanks for those uplifting words. Are you a motivational speaker by any chance?

"You'd think DC citizenry would be all over this stuff, but few are."

If there's one spot in America that has trouble dealing with reality, you're in it. They may think the rest of the country will go up in smoke or shake down to rubble, but D.C. will be immune.

Sue

"Where does "preparing" become "paranoia" in today's (USA) environment?"

To paraphrase the old bumper sticker, There is no such thing as paranoia, because they ARE out to get you.

Sue