One thing that surprised and disappointed me, was the fact
that there apparently was no plan to move in an
emergency communications network. I would have
thaought that would be a first priority, to set
up a network and co-ordinate commincations between
all the different agencies, and to set up a network
to link all the shelters together, and to a
"displaced Personsed" database. to aide in
co-ordinating victims, n terms of numbers, where
they lived, where they are, to provide benefits,
and to aid in disbursing ewnergency and insurance
funds.
I'm not knocking what they've done and ae doing, but it seems to me, that if you are going to prepare to
manage disaster area relief and repair, one should be prepared to move in with/establish, all basic systems
in a comprehansive network....coordinated communications
being essential...They should been able to drop in radio sets, to the NO Police, preset to link to a Plice coordination center...tied into databanks that can
coalate all info for the people making the security,
infrastructure repair & routing, and Humanitarian aid
supplies, logistics decisions.
]The city, topography, & enviornment, should be a
secondary level planning consideration. Whether
flood, fire, or man made disaster, there are
certain things that are required to deal with
re-esblishing a semi-normal & controlled situation.
Not all infrastructural systems may be damaged, in every disaster, but isn't the ability to temporarily
re-establish tham, till comprehensive solutions
can be mplemented, what FEMA is designed to do?
Perhaps my understanding of the situation is not
complete...
But it seems like the premise should be..."An
american city/Area, has suffered catastopic damage!...
What do we need to do to get in and out of the area?
Bring the destructive force under control? to move the populace to safety? and provide basic needs? What do
we need in the way of equpment to re-establish basic services? And have specific teams to do as much of
this, all at the same time.