In 1993, I worked for a consulting company that sent a proposal to FEMA for a disaster plan - a lot of the issues that are arising now would have been mitigated if that proposal or something like it had been implemented. It included having a load of stuff including generators, portable radio towers, satellite phones, etc stored in pods around the country that could be transported into the areas by helicopter, boat, truck, etc and set up very very quickly to have a communications infrastructure in place to be able to coordinate relief efforts.
Right now they are talking about reconnecting electricity. I wouldn't want to be in a flooded area if they turn back on that electricity! To me, they had better plan on running solar and diesel generators for quite a while. But where are those? Where are those big army helicopters that can transport loads of people? Where are the Navy ships to run communications? (Or help house ppl) After Hurricane Ivan destroyed 90% of Grenada last year, the first things in were soldiers, tents,water, food, generators and backhoes. Power restoration was not one of the first things on their minds at all. They got the refugee camps up and running, and then started doing the clearing and reconstruction. I think the shock of what happened took too long to get over, and now the rescue and relief are playing catch up. For the sake of the people who stayed to "ride out" the storm, lets hope that they manage to get going very very soon. Jacqueline On 9/1/05, Taran Rampersad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Andrew Pleasant wrote: > > > Yes, the media 'parachute in' with high-powered and working (e.g. also > > not wet or out of power) satellite phones and videophones and battery > > rechargers. They also have food, water, cans of gasoline, and often > > travel in groups for added security. They don't seem to be (for > > whatever reason) going into the projects or the heavily flooded areas > > where many people live(d). And those not flooded or with sufficient > > economic clout can likely do the same. > > Makes for good news, doesn't it? > > > > > Helicopters with bullhorns might, maybe, work but it have you ever > > heard the amount of noise those helicopters throw off? The rescue > > crews working on the helicopters mainly communicate by hand signal - > > not radio - because it is so loud. > > Actually, yes I have heard helicopters before. And the bullhorn was to > catch the ear - but have you ever heard a helicopter with loudspeakers? > Besides, helicopters could land on buildings if they had to. In fact, > some helicopters could be rigged to float when they do land. > > > So, I'd say it seems at least in part a technology issue as well. > > There may be boats and truck loads full of technology. If the > > technology isn't appropriate or functional in the context, I suppose > > you can call that a system problem but it strikes me as also a > > technological one. But then again making a distinction between > > technology and social/political/economic systems is inherently > > problematic to begin with. > > If it's a technology issue, then what I've been reading is that people > aren't maximizing the use of their technology. > > > > > However, I am quite sure that the communication issue, agency > > crosstalk, you refer to is unfortunately rampant as well. > > Yeah, every time you involve more than one organization, it happens. Who > coordinates the coordinators? :-) > > -- > Taran Rampersad > Presently in: Georgetown, Guyana > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > http://www.knowprose.com > http://www.easylum.net > http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran > > "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo > > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE > in the body of the message. > -- ______________________ Jacqueline Morris www.carnivalondenet.com T&T Music and videos online _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
