Hurricane Impact: Is the US civil disaster preparedness system below third world level?
I am deeply saddened by the suffering of the people in New Orleans and surroundings, South Alabama and Mississippi. My heart and best wishes go out to all the people bearing the tremendeous suffering and losses after hurricane Katrina. I encourage everyone to help as much as possible: Call your politicians to get their act together to bring help quickly, donate to your favorite charity (here is a link to the Amazon Red Cross Donation page and here is a list of other organizations and how Microsoft is helping), get involved in efforts to help, and help your local emergency service to keep itself ready for the next disasters...
Having said that, I must say that I am appalled at the lack of preparedness, evacuation help (planning evacuation in advance and getting it executed, providing security to the people, availability of evacuation centers (the Superdome in the middle of the flood area?!) and the ability to get help quickly to the people in need). How do you think the working poor and elderly can just leave on their own without providing some help in form of organized evacuation transportation?! I am shocked at the squandering and bickering about funding improvements to the levees that were supposed to protect New Orleans, the political dismantling of FEMA, the slow response of the local and federal authorities (partially hampered by resources dispersed to a location where they should not have been sent?).
I am getting the impression that the Thai government was more efficient in the aftermath of the Tsunami than the US authorities are now after the hurricane. And the hurricane did not happen over night! The European governments and organizations were acting more efficiently and effectively during the recent storms and floodings. What is going on?!
The one good thing I can see is that at least the people in the United States and elsewhere are still willing and able to help (already more money has been pledged in the US by private people and companies than for any other disaster before). But I hope that the donated millions will arrive in time to help all the needy and the looting, shooting, and rapes stop (and the politicians stop talking and start acting)!
And do not forget the situation in Iraq, Darfour and Niger, Malawi and other forgotten emergencies...
Here again is the Amazon Red Cross Donation link.
[Note: some of the links may need a free subscription to the New York Times.]
[Updated 2005-09-02: Added link to Microsoft site]