Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, October 30, 2012
Horrors A Big Storm Requires Big Government
Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 12:10 AM
5
@2 I didn't want to waste the time dealing with your FEMA bashing last time. But I'll give you a little inside scoop:
My dad worked with the FEMA northwest region search and rescue from 1999 to 2010. They're a group of firefighters, EMTs and engineers that are based regionally and are on duty for each quarter. My dad worked as an engineer for them.
About once a month they would meet and train. I'm sure you remember the 90s, it seemed like they were doing pointless exercises. But 9/11 happened. In all honestly, living in Seattle it didn't affect a lot of us out here. But I felt nothing but dread when my dad called and told me he was heading straight to NYC via McChord to do his duty.
They got there as quick as they could. No lives were saved at that point. Their duty was to find the remains of the dead but more importantly ensure the safety of the firefighters who went in. When he came back detailing the horrors that he saw, I had a respect that few have ever inspired. They worked 12-16 hour shifts in rubble that burned in 400 degrees, breathing toxic air they still plagues many of them. They were heroes.
Fast forward to Katrina, when NO was drowning. Yet again the NW search and rescue was on duty. I called my dad and asked if he had to go down there. He said he was sure they did but he hadn't received a call. He waited. Two days later they were called but unlike 9/11 there were no planes. The federal government made them take a bus. It took 2.5 days to get down to the south. At this point they were told they would work in Biloxi. This was the same team that lost a member at 9/11 and would give anything to help their fellow Americans. They weren't given that chance. After Katrina a lot of really good people quit FEMA. They tried but their bosses wouldn't spare the resources to help NO. The people on the ground wanted to do the best they could but Brownie was doin' a heck a job.
I know you don't like to acknowledge the efforts of others, but there were (and probably still are) good people who want to help their fellow citizens in crisis. Katrina was fucked byincompetence from the top.
More...
My dad worked with the FEMA northwest region search and rescue from 1999 to 2010. They're a group of firefighters, EMTs and engineers that are based regionally and are on duty for each quarter. My dad worked as an engineer for them.
About once a month they would meet and train. I'm sure you remember the 90s, it seemed like they were doing pointless exercises. But 9/11 happened. In all honestly, living in Seattle it didn't affect a lot of us out here. But I felt nothing but dread when my dad called and told me he was heading straight to NYC via McChord to do his duty.
They got there as quick as they could. No lives were saved at that point. Their duty was to find the remains of the dead but more importantly ensure the safety of the firefighters who went in. When he came back detailing the horrors that he saw, I had a respect that few have ever inspired. They worked 12-16 hour shifts in rubble that burned in 400 degrees, breathing toxic air they still plagues many of them. They were heroes.
Fast forward to Katrina, when NO was drowning. Yet again the NW search and rescue was on duty. I called my dad and asked if he had to go down there. He said he was sure they did but he hadn't received a call. He waited. Two days later they were called but unlike 9/11 there were no planes. The federal government made them take a bus. It took 2.5 days to get down to the south. At this point they were told they would work in Biloxi. This was the same team that lost a member at 9/11 and would give anything to help their fellow Americans. They weren't given that chance. After Katrina a lot of really good people quit FEMA. They tried but their bosses wouldn't spare the resources to help NO. The people on the ground wanted to do the best they could but Brownie was doin' a heck a job.
I know you don't like to acknowledge the efforts of others, but there were (and probably still are) good people who want to help their fellow citizens in crisis. Katrina was fucked byincompetence from the top.
7
@6 the math proves you're arguement wrong. Generally areas in a 1st world economy see a quick debt less recovery. That's why insurance exists.
8
Thanks for posting that, it was better than Goldy's worry about a vacation spot or Paul looking for jaded political hits. It actually made a reasoned argument for why we need well funded big government. And #6, go fuck yourself or better yet, head out to the eastern seaboard and help them out
9
7
Generally 1st world economies do not borrow 42¢ of every dollar they spend from their children, the way Barack Obama does.
As he flits around over the next few days handing out Big Government largess in re-election photo ops he really should take Malia and Sasha along to co-sign the checks, just to make it all legal.....
Generally 1st world economies do not borrow 42¢ of every dollar they spend from their children, the way Barack Obama does.
As he flits around over the next few days handing out Big Government largess in re-election photo ops he really should take Malia and Sasha along to co-sign the checks, just to make it all legal.....
10
@6 + @9, you are idiots. With devastating storm events like Sandy, we need to pool our collective (I know you love that word) resources to help our fellow citizens and non-citizens who need help. If you don't like it - move to a Libertarian paradise. (Oh wait, there's no such thing!)
11
What government is bigger than that of New York City and State? These already have huge percentages of their populations in local government jobs and are among the highest taxers in the country?
No, what this teaches us is that Cities are much more vulnerable to the types of disasters we associate with trailer parks in the Ozarks than thought. Too much density, too much reliance on rail transit and tunnels. We shouldn't put all our financial exchange eggs in the fragile basket of large obsolete cities.
No, what this teaches us is that Cities are much more vulnerable to the types of disasters we associate with trailer parks in the Ozarks than thought. Too much density, too much reliance on rail transit and tunnels. We shouldn't put all our financial exchange eggs in the fragile basket of large obsolete cities.
13
Chris Christie is grateful for big government, and federal money flowing to his state.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/30/ch…
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/30/ch…
15
The fact that this has to be argued is pathetic. We might just as well argue about whether hitting oneself in the head with a hammer would cause pain. It's an indication of how far the Right has dragged this nation down the shit hole.
16
@6,
Yeah, they should apply for a loan to rebuild NJ instead. As collateral, they can put down all the houses floating around the Ocean. Great idea dumbass!
@11,
Are you high? Are you suggesting we should turn 'obsolete' cities into rural trailerparks? Economic power is produced in cities, not trailerparks.
Yeah, they should apply for a loan to rebuild NJ instead. As collateral, they can put down all the houses floating around the Ocean. Great idea dumbass!
@11,
Are you high? Are you suggesting we should turn 'obsolete' cities into rural trailerparks? Economic power is produced in cities, not trailerparks.
17
Sometimes I’m amazed that morons like @6, @11, @2 can even figure out how to turn on their devices, much less actually use them.
Blind ideology is what turned FEMA from an amazingly quick emergency response agency to the ineffective and uncaring agency of Katrina fame. Obama made bringing back FEMA a priority and by all accounts his administration has done an admirable job.
Who is at the top matters ...
Blind ideology is what turned FEMA from an amazingly quick emergency response agency to the ineffective and uncaring agency of Katrina fame. Obama made bringing back FEMA a priority and by all accounts his administration has done an admirable job.
Who is at the top matters ...
19
NYC is a revenue generator for the rest of the state, and the federal government. More tax dollars flow out than in. Places that have lots of trailer parks generally take more money out than they put in.
20
@11, What is rather extraordinary is it took you so long to understand that most major port cities are vulnerable to extreme climate. Perhaps, the next time you feel compelled to say that moving toward a low carbon economy is too expensive and thus not worthwhile (after your friends have exhausted the more usual line of denial), you'll take the time to consider the 100's millions people and trillions in assets (and productivity) that will inevitably end up under water.
21
Basically, if you didn't think Global Warming was serious, this year has PROVEN it to be so.
Critically so.
Critically so.
22
@11 Wow, man, that was some Olympic-level straw-grasping there. I understand that's it's pretty difficult to fit the reality of disaster relief into your conservative mind-set. That's because the conservative mind-set is based on fantasy, a skewed reading of the Bible & a frustrated old bag whose delusional economic theories were based on a deep, psychological neurosis. (Talking about Ms. Rand.)
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