May the
Force
be with you:
We believe in Peace, Justice, Love, Learning and using our abilities for Good. We are not fictional Jedi, nor are we role playing. We live our lives according to the principles of Jediism and work together as a community to both cultivate and celebrate.
Speaking from the perspective of a Search and Rescue Professional, I think you will find that everything worked the way it was supposed to, huge factors are playing in your perception of a delayed US response:
The government of Haiti was largely decapitated. Without leadership, there was no one on the ground to organize an initial response.
As the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and speaking from personal experience with operations to support Haiti, there is a significant and severe lack of first responders. Yes, to those of you in the US accustomed to someone else risking their lives and well-being to save you in times of peril, often peril of your own making, there are countries on the face of the earth both black and white that lack or suffer from insufficient numbers of police, firefighters, emergency medical services, coast guards, etc.
In China the tents were up because China had the tents right there. Again, as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has trouble providing basic daily services, e.g. firefighters, much less a stockpile of emergency services equipment and supplies. Similarly, because it cannot afford basic daily services to a large extent, it also cannot afford the specialized training needed by disaster response people.
The airport had to be stabilized before the relief your screeching about could start pouring in. On NPR I have heard some criticize relief efforts by comparing them to the reporters who managed to get in the first day. One reporter with a three-person camera crew, getting in via a Bell Jet Ranger (a very small) helicopter with maybe 600 pounds of camera gear and personal effects is a lot different than a C-17 cargo plane or SH-53 Super Stallion helicopter loaded with tons of water and food. Or, are the crews of those aircraft, who also have parents, wives, husbands, and children supposed to risk their lives unnecessarily to land on a potentially unsafe runway?
And by the way, with limited access how would you prioritize the relief efforts, would you send in the Search and Rescue teams to dig people out first or food and water for those who were not buried? It all cannot go in at the same time even in the best of circumstances. By doctrine the Search and Rescue teams go in first to do "direct life saving." It stems from the rule of fours: four minutes without air; four days without water; four weeks without food and humans die. So, now with that piece of information, you prioritize what goes in first. It's a harsh rule, but it's biology and we can't change that.
Nope, I am afraid you are all wrong. The relief efforts are going just about the way they're supposed to be going, whether you think it or not. Consider your own "travel." Do you get up in the morning and decide to take a flight to someplace one thousand miles away and you're there within six or eight hours? Hell no! You buy your ticket weeks in advance to get the best price. You start packing your measly 50 or 100 pounds of clothes and toiletries a day or two before. You leave for the airport in time to get there two hours early. Then you fly there. Now multiply that by a standing start, no one is standing by with pallets of water and emergency food on a forklift just waiting to be loaded into a waiting cargo plane. Even if they were, even if such a thing were possible, because you would be screeching about the wasted money in that, the receiving airport still needs to be checked and stabilized for safety because if the plane hits a hole in the runway and crashes killing its crew and causing a tragedy for the crew's families, the people they're trying to help still don't have the GDed tents, food and water you're yelling about.
Nope, again you're wrong this is going like it's supposed to. Aid and big time aid started arriving Wednesday and started flooding in yesterday about 48-72 hours post-incident. That's why FEMA and the state emergency management people tell you to be able to "survive" on your own for 72 hours, because it takes that long to gear up a response, to a major disaster. And they're not talking about nine Big Macs, orders of fries, and Cokes. You can live on a can of pork and beans, with a can of green beans, and some crackers for a day. Hell you'll probably get fat, because if you look at the can it's probably more like two or three servings. For water, you don't need Dasani water in their designer bottles. Take an old milk jug, wash it out and fill it before the water is cut off, and voila there is water for one for a day. Multiply that by the number of people in the house and multiply by three and you've got your three-day supply of water! Keep it on hand and change it out every month, using the "old" water to water your flowers or whatever then replace it with fresh.
I am afraid you all are symptomatic of what's wrong with the United States. Everyone wants someone else to take care of them at all times.Well sometimes, help isn't just a phone call away and right around the corner. Sometimes you have to take care of yourselves until help arrives even if for a little while. But, I guess others are supposed to pull out all the stops to bail you out of your travails. And, you know what? We do! I lost too many buddies over the years trying to save people's live for youto convince me otherwise.
Rick Ramos
This was posted in response to a positively scathing article which criticized the US administration for its lack of mobility in rendering aid to the people of Haiti after the recent earthquake.
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all 8 points are very real and very valid...having lived in florida most of my life i know all too well how to stockpile supplies and be prepared for emergencies.
on the other hand, no-one in haiti could prepare for this, how do you prepare for an earthquake on a faultline that's been inactive for 200 years...add to it that they're too poor to be able to stockpile supplies.
for those that thought the u.s. dragged it's feet, think about this...the press release always happens hours after the decision as already been made and enacted...
as an addendum, if they wanted immediate response why did they wait for the u.s. to act before they decided to act?
I DO have questions for the world in general - If haiti was/is in such a bad way BEFORE the quake (ie poor government etc etc etc) then why did no one do anything about it.
Sadam hussein was 'removed' for these reasons - so why is haiti different? Or is it they dont have anything worth protecting/investing in etc in the eyes of the rest of the world ?
Maybe - and only a maybe - this disaster could be the start of a new haiti - the world is running around to help them now and I hope it continues well into the future for the betterment of the country as a whole.
BTW - something not mentioned in the above is the fact hat aftershcks remain a huge threat (but if youy research geology and plate techtonics specifically) you will figure that aftershocks are a blessing in disguise.
Also - those going out to aid a nation in this state also have to take with them the means to protect themselves from disease as well as feed, shelter and handle sanitation for the aid workers.
BTW - and this IS specifically for the USA - if there are lessons to be learned from this - learn em and learn em well - because dont forget - your nation is due 'the big one' from san andread/miguel faults (applies to canada too)
I am lucky in that I live in a place relatively free from quakes - we get about 4 a year and they are more like a cat with wind than a quake (minor rumbles) that pass as trucks driving by (in the UK) it is a matter of luck where we are born - one may be born in the USA in this lifetime - but we could be born in a place like haiti the next.
We all have daily gripes - but today - they are nothing to compare with those in haiti. Id like to think that shoukld my nation need help like haiti does at this time - that someone somewhere has the goodness of heart to help - for this reason - whilst its relatively trivial - im donating cash at the bank.
Dont sit at home and think' there is nothing I can do' THERE IS
Think about it - the UK has a population of around 60million - what of every person (who could spare it) donated just one pound - imagine the help that will bring haiti
Look at it another way - its saturday as I type this - how many people bought lottery tickets here - I bet those that did boiught more than one as well (again, £1 a go) and other gambling - what about those going to the bar/pub and spending say £20 on a round of drinks - or buying a pack of cigarettes or 'treats' (candy, cd's)
If everyone inthe USA and UK and elsewhere just thought about this for only a day and gave the money to help those in need (haiti right now but in life in general for other charities etc) - wouldnt the world be a better place?
what goes around comes around my friends - this life or the next
MTFBWY - A
I disagree on the point comparing it to the Iraq situation. The government is attempting to stabilize as an elected republic and has been making progress to that end. This being a poor nation with a level of instability is a far cry from what Iraq was under Sadam.
Yo may or may not know this but the UK are conducting a public enquiry into the 'legality' of the invasion - its amazing how many lies were told about sadams iraq (I wonder if Ex-Prime Minister Blair will as a reult face war crime tribunal over this?)
Anyway - the result will be interesting but change nothing
Dont get me wrong - Sadam had to 'retire' - but iraq aside - I can name a number of others who warrent action and nothing is done.
But who are we to interfere in another countries affairs? and dont use the threat of xyz weapons as an excuse as most if not all countries have 'weapons of mass destruction' - Imagine how you would feel if your nation was 'invaded' cos another country didnt like the way your president did things.
Off topic I know - but the point is haiti may well be poor but isnt funny how their leaders live in luxury with flashy presidential building etc. Im sorry but the leadership (for want of a better phrase) leave much to be desired - the country was a wreck before the quake - maybe whilst a horrid event - some or indeed much good could be taken from it in the long term if the right strings are pulled and the right cogs and wheels put in place.
Time will tell
MTFBWY - A
as to haiti i'm sure they will be able to re-establish themselves and possibly with international help establish a new stronger, just, and honest(to an extent) government...i say to an extent because let's be honest, all governments keep their secrets from their citizens, they lie to their citizens(someti mes to protect, sometimes for other reasons)....
as to the invasion...of course lies were told...a nation was attacked and angered....it's like poking a vicious dog, the dog will lash out at whatever is closest, sometimes destroying the original aggrevator isn't enough to satiate the beast....and of course there was no doubt some sort of greed behind it pertaining to oil contracts....
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