Volunteers Could Do A Better Job

Sue Bob's Diary ^ | September 2, 2005 | Sue Bob

[Sue Bob]

Almost every disaster, I hear stories about how the "authorities" stymie efforts by volunteers to bring in food, water or ice. I'm not one who thinks that we should sit back and let the government do everything for us in a disaster. My position is strengthened by reading things like this from The Interdictor:

Three days ago, police and national guard troops told citizens to head toward the Crescent City Connection Bridge to await transportation out of the area. The citizens trekked over to the Convention Center and waited for the buses which they were told would take them to Houston or Alabama or somewhere else, out of this area.

It's been 3 days, and the buses have yet to appear.

Although obviously he has no exact count, he estimates more than 10,000 people are packed into and around and outside the convention center still waiting for the buses. They had no food, no water, and no medicine for the last three days, until today, when the National Guard drove over the bridge above them, and tossed out supplies over the side crashing down to the ground below. Much of the supplies were destroyed from the drop. Many people tried to catch the supplies to protect them before they hit the ground. Some offered to walk all the way around up the bridge and bring the supplies down, but any attempt to approach the police or national guard resulted in weapons being aimed at them.

[RedBeaconNY]

We don't need backseat drivers. Help, or shut up.

[tfecw]

"I hate this idea that we should hand over our means of survival to the government. Have you ever seen how governmental employees act when you need help? Go to the post office some time."

That's what these people voted for, it's what they get.

As for the seemingly over reactions for the guard and the police, who can blame them? People do desperate things when they are overtired, hungry, thirsty and providing for their families. I wouldn't suggest having a handful of guys drive a couple of trucks with water and food into a crowd of 10,000 hungry and thirsty people. It's a good way to loose a couple of trucks and a handful of men.

[Fierce Allegiance]

What have you done?

How would you feelabout getting shot at while trying to help?

[coconutt2000]

Volunteers wouldn't do any better. Our country is learning how to deal with large scale disasters. In the past our hodgepodge of coordination methods worked because the disasters weren't so concentrated with such a high damage and human toll, while at the same time being widespread enough to challenge the ability to transport relief goods and personnel into the area, and evacuees out.

In other words, this type of disaster, no matter how planned for - will never go smoothly.

And criticisms at this juncture do not enhance or help.