Posted on 09/01/2005 5:23:31 AM PDT by naturalman1975
THE HON ALEXANDER DOWNER MP, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
THE HON PHILIP RUDDOCK MP, ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Australian Government has offered to make available to the United States two specialist emergency managers to assist with the community recovery phase of the response to the natural disaster which has engulfed the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
The Australian Government stands ready to provide further assistance if requested.
This devastating natural disaster has taken lives, left communities submerged and destroyed infrastructure. More than 78,000 people have sought refuge in shelters, with many more displaced. The city of New Orleans has been particularly hard hit, with about 80 percent of the city under water.
The impact of Hurricane Katrina will be felt for months and years, as the residents of the Gulf Coast face the task of rebuilding their homes, their businesses and their lives. The Prime Minister has extended the nation's condolences to the President and people of the United States.
The US Administration has set out the priorities of saving lives, sustaining lives and executing a comprehensive recovery effort. The two Australian specialists, from Emergency Management Australia, have significant expertise in the area of community recovery following disasters and would be able to help US officials assess priority community needs. EMA staff have worked with Indonesian officials following the Boxing Day tsunami and are very familiar with the pressure on communities following major urban disasters.
Emergency Management Australia has strong links with the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is leading the Federal response in the United States to the disaster.
Australians wishing to make a donation to the victims of Hurricane Katrina can contact the Australian Red Cross (1800 811 700).
Australians concerned about family and friends in the region can register their details with DFAT on the special hotline number 1800 00 22 14.
I guess the difficult times tell you who your REAL friends are.
BTW, I don't remember the US sending out blaming messages when natural disasters occurr in other countries. We just send aid.
It has been my contention all along that if we get any out side help it will be from Australia, Japan and the U.K.
Thank you, Australia! (((HUGS))) to a good friend.
Wow! Two "managers"...
That's what we need!
Did you read the article?
Ya, those two managers are going to make all the difference...
Can you call "two emergency managers" assistance? What do they actually assist? There's no lack of "managers" around here...
Truth is, we don't need any help. Just nice to know the whole world isn't filled with jags.
Part of the reason for sending these two people is that they are experts at working out what is likely to be helpful, and also experts on what resources Australia has for disaster relief - so they'll be able to tell the Australian government and US authorities what else we might be able to do, so more directed requests can be useful.
You don't just send trucks full of water and trucks full of food supplies into disaster areas - you send people who can work out where they are most likely to be useful.
We could use help, real help.
That's just what we need....a little more negativity. Keep up the excellent work. You really think that all they are offering is two managers? Stop it! BTW it's been 3 days. Don't you think that a little management input might be helpful in getting aid workers into the area to help? Chaos reigns, perspective is needed now not negative comments.
Do American disaster managers know what resources Australia has available to offer? Do they know what Australia has stockpiled in terms of emergency food and medical supplies? Do they know what Australia has available in terms of water purification facilities? Do they know how many pumping systems Australia has available and where they are and what is needed to deploy them? Do they know what rescue organisations exist in each Australian state and territory, their precise capabilities, and which of them are available for deployment if there is a need?
Generally speaking, no, they don't know most of these things. The people who do are the experts at Emergency Management Australia and that is why two of them are being sent to the US (if the US wants them) because they are the people who will be able to see for themselves what is needed, and know if we have it available so they can tell the US experts that it is available and if they want it, they can ask specifically for precisely what is needed to be sent.
Now, if the US had already specifically asked us for something, and we had it, we'd be sending things - but so far there have been any formal requests and that is probably partly because the authorities in the US aren't actually sure about what we have available, or it what we can provide will actually be useful.
Thanks mates, I'll take Racheal Hunter if it's fair dinkum with you.
Sorry, mate, but I'm afraid the requests have to come through official channels - if we just start taking requests from everybody of what they want from us, I think we'd just be sending tankers of beer over.
Did you read the article?
***
I did. Did you?
Maybe you missed this...
"The Australian Government stands ready to provide further assistance if requested."
And they are also encouraging their citizens to give to the local Red Cross.
That's pretty good...considering offers to help from many of our so-called allies have yet to come in.
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