I recently posted a popular series of Diaries on the topic of personal emergency preparedness. For those Daily Kos readers who may have missed the series, here are the links to the 5 parts:
Are YOU ready for disaster?
- Assess your risks!
- Plan to survive! (part A)
- Plan to survive! (part B)
- Emergency gear and supplies
- Material preparations continued; Conclusion
This Diary is an open forum for Kossacks to discuss preparedness questions and solutions.
More after the break.
Today's disaster-related headlines:
[CNN] Parish president: FEMA still fumbling
The president of St. Tammany Parish accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday of continuing to mismanage the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a charge denied by an agency spokeswoman. [...]
[Fort Worth Star-Telegram] FEMA still struggling to find interim housing
[BugMeNot link for sign-in info]Two weeks before President Bush's mid-October goal for moving Hurricane Katrina victims out of shelters, more than 100,000 people still reside in such makeshift housing, and 400,000 more are in hotel rooms costing up to $100 a night.
Housing options promised by the federal government a month ago have largely failed to materialize. Cruise ships and trailer parks have so far proved in large part to be unworkable, while an American Red Cross program -- paid for by the federal government -- that allows storm victims to stay in motels or hotels is scheduled to expire Oct. 15. It is projected to cost the Federal Emergency Management Agency up to $168 million. [...]
[Winston-Salem Journal] FEMA and Charity
Just when you thought the Federal Emergency Management Agency had exhausted all its bone-headed ideas, another one has slithered to the surface: The agency will reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have used volunteers and donations to shelter and feed victims of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. [...]
It should be readily apparent to the reader that the federal government is poorly prepared to deal with a large-scale disaster. Many people (your correspondent included) were under the mistaken impression that the structural rot of the Bush administration had spared life-critical services such as FEMA, but this is clearly no longer true, if it ever was.
Have recent events motivated you to reexamine your preparedness plans? Do you have questions about the risks you face, the planning process, or the right material goods for a particular need?
If so, welcome to Ask Mr. Preparedness Guy. I will check back regularly throughout the day to answer questions and discuss issues.
What's on your mind? (Oh, and take the poll!)