The lesssons I have learned from the Hurricane Katrina disaster and tragedy

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | September 5, 2005 | Jeff Head

[bvw]

Well and good. Like the incorporation of general reading -- novels, biography, history -- in the go-bag. Also a notebook and pens/pencils.

Still, the lessons aren't done yet. What lessons will come out of Baton Rouge, out of Houston? So many displaced at once! The long-term effect, the midterm effect. Weeks, months and years from now?

One lesson I suspect is the importance of getting people BACK to their property, to their community, asap. To rebuild, to rebuild, to rebuild. To rebuild the necessities (clearing and cleaning, temp housing, roads, water, sanitiation, to rebuild the basics (structures and houses, school buildings, shops), to rebuild their lifes and comforts (jobs, community).

[the irate magistrate]

Thanks Bro !!

[jw777]

Excellent.

[Jeff Head]

Just pointing out that the behavior is possible...I agree that current Japan is much less likely to be involved in such behavior...but depending on circumstances, unless there is an absolutely firm foundational moral unerpinning to the majority of society, in such circumstyances that behavior can come to the fore.

Let's hope, whoever and wherever we are, that we take the proper steps for preparation and that we retain at all times, that moral underpinning. In the end, that is the most critical ingredient IMHO.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Good synopsis. FEMA literature has long stated that families need to be prepared to be on their own for 3 to 14 days. Thus, no one can realistically state that the federal government was slow to respond.

[Jeff Head]

Particularly if they, the people so involved, are principally involved in that rebuilding process. It would be a big mistake, IMHO, for the majority of the people to come back and find it all already done for them so that they have little physical, mental, or emotional investment in what their lives become.

[Jeff Head]

A double amen to that my friend.

Print out a copy of this and let Ron Paul have it from me. I'd be interested in his comments regarding the same.

[bvw]

Yes. It would be hobbling, imo.

[Jeff Head]

Well, I will tell you this; in addition to my firearms and plentiful ammunition, I have quite a few survival knives, a compound bow with numerous arrows, and a number of hand pump air guns. Cannot be too reliant on one form of protection. Depending on the duration, you may need to resort at some point to more basic methods in any case.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly. Self reliance and responsibility is an absolute foundational principle for survival and rebuilding IMHO.

[The Red Zone]

A laptop computer running Linux.

[The Red Zone]

Bring in Jimmuh to coordinate a Habitat for Humanity writ large. That's the one thing he has shown that he cannot screw up.

[Jeff Head]

No need. We just need to get people back to the understanding that the natural "habitat for humanity" is a home with a traditional, nuclear family, living traditional American moral values (read Judeao-Christian, whether all the people subscribe to the formal religious nature of them or not), inhabiting it.

When that is once again understood and practiced and out and out supported by our governmental institutions as opposed to the illegitmacy supported by the welfare state, we shall be well on our road back to a more normal sence of things, and a much more self-reliant and prepared society IMHO...and healthy, prospering habitat for humanity.

[The Red Zone]

Hey it's something to do.

[Jeff Head]

I hear ya. I just hope that people learn from this and are more and better prepared for future events, be they natural or enemy enduced.

[NorseWood]

Thanks Jeff,

I actually spent part of the Labor Day weekend replenishing my emergency preparedness supplies. I have a number of 5 gallon water bottles that I periodically refill with fresh water. I also have several large garbage cans full of canned food and other necessary supplies. We realized that some of the food items had been in storage for too long and we rotated these into our regular food preparation items and will replenish the emergency kit with new food items. Remember too to keep fresh flashlight batteries in your supplies. I keep the supplies in several locations in case I can’t get to one but another would be accessible. Since I live in earthquake country, in addition to supplies in the automobiles, I have a backpack under my desk with supplies that would sustain me for a period of time.

[Jeff Head]

Outstanding. Would that all of our citizens took the time and effort to be as prepared as you are. It will benefit you and yours, either one day in actuality as it helps you whether a particular storm or disaster...or at the very least in a life long attitude that spills over into other areas of all of your lives and benefits them immensely.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

In the immediate aftermath of New Orleans being inundated, I took the opportunity to point out the following to my children: "Every unprepared person sitting around waiting for the government to rescue him and bellyaching about the rescue not being quick enough voted--if he or she voted at all--Democrat in the last election."

[NorseWood]

Jeff, inside a zip-lock bag inside in each container, at the top where it is most accessible, is a Bible and other inspirational reading material. It is my first line of defense.

[Paradox]

The has been no state of "national emergency" declared. Sorry, you are wrong. But welcome to FreeRepublic anyways..