Ian Pearson
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 08:10 AM |
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ICE
Just been watching the News cover on the continually unfolding disater in the States. A chinook landed to offload ICE? The folk were in need of food
and water. I understand the vast area covered is almost the size of the UK, but I had always thought that with the vast military resources that the US
has with it's National Guard, that it could mobilise extremely quickly. Been quite a shock to me to see the apparent lack of action on behalf of
the big shapers and movers. The real relief story is the way private individuals have stretched out to help those affected by the hurricane.
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MikeR
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 08:31 AM |
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the larger the organisation and the larger the area affected the more difficult it is to co-ordinate.
Saw a general say on day two they realised they needed busses, took them 2 to 3 days to drive them to the scene!
Whats surprised me is how quickly anachy has taken hold - although can't help thinking that the no looting rule hasn't helped. Should have
had controlled by police food looting from day one. Stealing TV's isn't on, but if you've got no food.........
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Russ-Turner
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 08:56 AM |
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Now they are saying up to 10,000 dead... it's just beyond belief! 
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Ian Pearson
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 09:24 AM |
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quote:
Saw a general say on day two they realised they needed busses, took them 2 to 3 days to drive them to the scene!
I had been thinking on the lines of using their massive Air National Guard to airdrop food/ water & medical supplies.
I'm not sure of the statistics, but the National Guard has a massive transport capability, and I can't believe that it's all tied up
in Iraq.
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MikeR
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 09:36 AM |
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but again - organise it.
where does the food come from?
how do you drop it?
where do you drop it?
how do you make sure you don't hit people (normally air drops are done on fields)
How do you stop gangs taking the food so the needy gets it?
I am astonished how poor the organisation / relief / rescue effort has been. Day 1, someone with a lot of power should have been put in charge.
I remember when we had the foot & mouth epedemic. After lots of complaints a army general was given sole command. First thing is did was go out
and buy a shed load of mobiles so people could keep in contact, second thing, get a helicoper & fly over the countryside to find sites to burn
dead animals. He then turned up, told the farmer what was happening and got on with it.
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Ian Pearson
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 09:24 PM |
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"where does the food come from?
how do you drop it?
where do you drop it?
how do you make sure you don't hit people (normally air drops are done on fields)
How do you stop gangs taking the food so the needy gets it?"
Not knowing a lot about these things, I'm merely speculating, but I would expect a modern military to have stockpiles of rations. Drop the food
close to the cities, and perhaps fly it in aboard helo's. You deploy personnel to organise and supervise drop sites. etc etc etc. Perhaps a
little simplified, but I would've thought there are contingency plans that could easily be adapted for events like this?
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MikeR
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| posted on 3/9/05 at 11:58 PM |
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considering this is a known problem for the city - you'd expect some pretty detailed plans.
I'm sure i heard a comment on the tv that funding for this type of emergancy was cut with the speculation being the funding was diverted to the
war in iraq. Probably isn't true but its a great way to inflame opinion.
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MikeP
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| posted on 4/9/05 at 12:16 AM |
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It does seem very strange. IIRC, at least 3 days in advance they were predicting the hurricane was going to hit New Orleans dead on. The day before
it hit it was upgraded to a category 4. When it finally did hit the eye missed NO and dropped back to a category 3 after making landfall.
So it seems not only has aid been slow, it appears someone dropped the ball big time in not anticipating what was going to be needed, despite a 3 day
advance warning and less intensity then was predicted.
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