Martial Law or Anarchy...
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
May 23, 2007 3:40pm CST
In the case of an infrasture destroying disaster of attack, we basically have two choices on how we would like to see the recovery run.
If we expect the government to take the lead in the recovery, there will have to be martial law.
If we want private citizens and organizations to lead the way, we risk anarchy.
In the U.S. we love our freedom and many of us only expect the government to coordinate local, state and national recovery assets.
On the other hand, Katrina showed us that many Americans want the government to do most the work.
I've worked in neighborhoods where the people represented both sides. In some neigborhoods, all they wanted was the food, water and materials to start rebuilding their lives. In other neighborhoods, they wanted to sit around complaining that everyone else wasn't doing enough for them.
So, which would you rather see... Which type of neighborhood do you live in?
2 people like this
3 responses
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
27 May 07
I would rather take care of myself. I don't believe that this would cause anarcy, that would just cause self-reliance. America has had tragedies long before we had FEMA. What did we do then? Hurricanes hit our shores and tornados hit our heartland, earthquakes destroyed our buildings, fire destroyed our cities, and floods destroyed our properties. We didn't need FEMA back then we don't need FEMA now and all of the New Orlean residents that whined and complained about the lack of FEMA response needed to first quit whining and do something. But I forget that most of them were probably on government assistance anyway. It is funny how government assistance turns people into slaves always needing the next hand-out from their masters.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 May 07
Yeah, there were disasters long before FEMA, but then again, there was Emergency Services at the local level long before FEMA also.
FEMA has done a lot of good, but they haven't done very well at educating the public about what their role is. They aren't supposed to rebuild an area, they are supposed to coordinate national assets to help the people in the disaster area rebuild their own areas.
The same thing goes for local and state Emergency Management.
You are right about the problem though. Too many people (including state and local officials) think that all they have to do is call in FEMA and their responsibility is over.
The real role of Emergency Management (at any level) is to help the INDIVIDUAL and FAMILY get what they need to rebuild their lives. It's too bad so many individuals and families would rather just let the government come in and do it all... then complain when the government doesn't do it like they wanted it done.
1 person likes this
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
29 May 07
I live in the UK, but I would much prefer martial law.
But on the subject of Katrina, do you believe that it wasn't the job of the government to do the most of the work?
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 May 07
No!
I've never been on a disaster recovery mission where the government did most the work. We handed out supplies, food and water. We sometimes blocked access to parts of the disaster area during assessments and evaluations. We often helped with the grunt work, but when we did, it was working along side the locals.
The government cannot rebuild a neighborhood. They can only offer assistance. The WHOLE reason Alabama and Texas did a better job after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was, the government officials followed their Emergency Management Disaster Protocols, and the people were willing to do the bulk of the work themselves.
In Louisiana, the neighborhoods that are recovered are the ones where the people were willing to do the work.
~~~~~
~If the solution to your problem requires more from everyone else than yourself, it is just an excuse. ~ ParaTed2k's (Not So) Famous Sayings.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 May 07
Ah, then you are right. Government should be coordinating assets and activating pre-written disaster plans. The "how to" and "who" should have been decided long before the disaster.
Thanks for clarifying.
1 person likes this
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
30 May 07
I see. I just wondered because America has representative democracy, but the kind where you elect people to make decissions for you, rather than having referendums on everything like in true democracy. And so I would have thought that natural disasters like these would be the job of the government to control and provide relief. In that I don't mean people should sit around waiting to be rescued, but where people are told what the action plan is in an organised fashion. You know what I mean? In government I mean local government.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
29 May 07
Hello Parated2k,
Nice to visit with you again.
Well, since Government is by it's nature, inherently unable to even remotely approach anything with speed, stealth, or under budget -- I'd say that there is no real choice.
'We the People' should be responsible for taking the lead in any disaster recovery. Those people who are too incompetent, lazy, or are just incapable of self-reliance will suffer their own fate. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but by golly this nation was founded on self-reliance, and a brazen lack of fear of hard work.
Every city and state should have their own disaster recovery plans in place. And, it is the responsibility of the citizens to make sure that their state is prepared. Yup, that's right, it's our job to call our state offices to find out our state of preparedness.
If people do not know which state agency is responsible for their emergency preparedness scenario, then they should take it upon themselves to find out directly.
If we're not part of the solution, then we're part of the problem!
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
30 May 07
Bingo! You hit the nail on the head, ParaTed.
WE need to be prepared. I'd go one step farther, and suggest a full five day supply of food, water, emergency supplies, medications, flashlights, warm blankets, pet food ... whatever WE need to sustain until we can get back on our feet again.
As an aside, for anyone reading this ... those vacuum seal, airtight/watertight bags for storing clothes are an excellent way to make sure we have access to warm, dry clothes. And, remember wool is warm even when wet, and is remarkably able to keep the moisture away from the skin -- at least until soaked.
I suspect that far too many Americans have forgotten the 'Boyscout' motto -- "Be prepared".
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 May 07
Exactly!
When I was down in Florida for Hurricane Andrew recovery, there were people who complained that it took more than just a few days for us to get to them.
Let's see, the Dade County alone has over 2 million people, how on earth can anyone get that many people in just a few days?
The best thing anyone can do for themselves is invest in a 72 hour emergency kit (minimum). It takes about 72 hours to do a good assessment and really have things set up for the recovery. Just think how much better a recovery mission would go, if most of the people in the disaster area were prepared for that first 72 hours.
1 person likes this
