Sunday, September 04, 2005
Homeland Disgrace
Where to start. My sister called me yesterday evening with word that someone her partner was close to has died. He was in his late twenties. He died waiting for dialysis. He died in Louisiana.
First reaction: blaming someone. But whom to blame?
The doctors or nurses who stayed behind in horrendous conditions, working without electricity, supplies, or relief? Hardly. I have worked in a hospital setting when the air conditioning went out. We evacuated. We still had water, ice, medicine, electricity and transportation. The conditions in these hospitals are not just bad, they are catastrophic. Can you imagine manually pumping air into someone's lungs manually for hours on end? Can you imagine the persons in your care dying by inches, suffering and having the simplest necessities beyond your reach? No. Don't blame the medical people who have been doing all that they can possibly do to save lives.
Then the rescuers? Or the National Guard? No. The rescuers are doing all they can as well, often working without rest in extreme conditions. And the National Guard can only do what they are ordered to do, and only with the supplies given to them. These people, I am confident, are caring people who have done all they can, and more to help those in need.
The problem, from where I sit in North Carolina, far removed from the immediate disaster area. Without first-hand knowledge. Following the reports and stories. My only conclusion, and not an insiders one, is the breakdown in communication.
Even at full strength, which they weren't, the levees may not have been able to withstand a hurricane the strength of Katrina. So setting aside those idiots (and I do not use the term lightly) who cut the budget for the levees - setting that aside. The levees didn't hold. Not a surprise to anyone who knew the topography of New Orleans. Not a surprise to anyone who had run nightmare scenerios of a catastrophy of this nature. This should not have taken those in charge by surprise.
Alright. New Orleans was going to flood. Evacuations were ordered. But what of those who could not (not those that would not), but could not physically leave? Where were the plans for removing those most in danger? I don't know enough about this area, so I'll just ask the question and move along.
Homeland Security was created to do what exactly? To protect us obviously. But another function was supposed to facilitate fast and favorable response to disasters of both man-made and natural creation. FEMA was put under Homeland Security to make it better, to utilize it's resources in a more efficient manner.
Where's the blame? I don't know. But I know where to start looking.
First reaction: blaming someone. But whom to blame?
The doctors or nurses who stayed behind in horrendous conditions, working without electricity, supplies, or relief? Hardly. I have worked in a hospital setting when the air conditioning went out. We evacuated. We still had water, ice, medicine, electricity and transportation. The conditions in these hospitals are not just bad, they are catastrophic. Can you imagine manually pumping air into someone's lungs manually for hours on end? Can you imagine the persons in your care dying by inches, suffering and having the simplest necessities beyond your reach? No. Don't blame the medical people who have been doing all that they can possibly do to save lives.
Then the rescuers? Or the National Guard? No. The rescuers are doing all they can as well, often working without rest in extreme conditions. And the National Guard can only do what they are ordered to do, and only with the supplies given to them. These people, I am confident, are caring people who have done all they can, and more to help those in need.
The problem, from where I sit in North Carolina, far removed from the immediate disaster area. Without first-hand knowledge. Following the reports and stories. My only conclusion, and not an insiders one, is the breakdown in communication.
Even at full strength, which they weren't, the levees may not have been able to withstand a hurricane the strength of Katrina. So setting aside those idiots (and I do not use the term lightly) who cut the budget for the levees - setting that aside. The levees didn't hold. Not a surprise to anyone who knew the topography of New Orleans. Not a surprise to anyone who had run nightmare scenerios of a catastrophy of this nature. This should not have taken those in charge by surprise.
Alright. New Orleans was going to flood. Evacuations were ordered. But what of those who could not (not those that would not), but could not physically leave? Where were the plans for removing those most in danger? I don't know enough about this area, so I'll just ask the question and move along.
Homeland Security was created to do what exactly? To protect us obviously. But another function was supposed to facilitate fast and favorable response to disasters of both man-made and natural creation. FEMA was put under Homeland Security to make it better, to utilize it's resources in a more efficient manner.
Where's the blame? I don't know. But I know where to start looking.
# posted by Qeltic @ 8:06 AM 
