I’ve only been through the mildest of disasters i.e. hurricane where we are so something on the scale of Harvey and Katrina are not in my experience. But I notice every time in the aftermath there is a person lamenting “No one is helping us. No one has come around to see about us” etc. So, my question is who are they expecting? Is it a part of the National Guard’s duties to go from house to house afterward?
My state has an emergency management division. It seems that part of that entity’s responsibilities would be to figure out who’s dead after a disaster.
When it hits the fan, I think there are people who do for themselves, and people who expect someone else to take care of them. (You also saw a lot of people taking care of themselves last week. And others).
I think some folks do think the government can plan for and do anything if it wanted to. So you get ppl who ask why they didn’t evacuate everyone. Not possible. Or have enough beds for…how many thousands? Not possible. The beds and supplies follow after a disaster from city to city. They don’t keep them all around just in case. Some people just don’t understand how things work is all.
Eventually, the police, FEMA and the Gaurd will go door to door once they are no longer in recovery mode to see if there are any others stranded or lost.
Not everyone CAN get out. The elderly, disabled, poor, etc.
Yes, they expect FEMA, first responders, etc to come. It’s a public health issue, too. They need to find the survivors so they don’t die and they need to find the dead so they don’t rot.
Who are survivors expecting to help them?
there is a joke about a guy stuck on his roof as flood waters rise, but it has a religious theme so I won’t risk offending anyone.
People want “the government” to take care of them in most cases. Local, state or feds, people generally want taxpayers to rescue them. In many cases it is the right thing for taxpayers to do. Although there are certainly many private charities that people choose to donate to, and many people volunteer to donate their time and efforts. I am guessing from the wording of the question that the OP doesn’t mean during the storm, but as the poster said “in the aftermath”.
It is also worth noting that many people simply had no place to go. No family out of town. No shelters were really open before the storm. Can’t afford a hotel.
So what do they do? They stay.
Personally, yes, I do expect gov agencies to go in and rescue people. IMO, the most basic point of government is to protect the lives of citizens.
Expected? Various politicians. Usually wearing action man jackets.
FEMA/National Guard/local first responders/volunteers went door to door in Katrina. When you have disasters the size of Katrina/Harvey, I do think it is good to have a coordinated effort in the flooded areas to do that for a whole host of reasons that were mentioned above.
If a citizen cannot expect or get extensive help in a natural disaster of this magnitude, we’re all in trouble.
As Governor Christie said " “If the federal government is not here to help people when 50 inches of rain fall on them in a historic way, then what the hell are they there for?”
Note that Houston did NOT tell people to evacuate, so it’s not as if the people trapped had ignored instructions to leave.
Because the last time they tried evacuating 6.5 million people, during Rita, lots died on the highways. you simply can’t get that many people moving in that short a time frame.
@romanigypsyeyes , have you seen any evidence that the local , federal or state government and all volunteer entities have been less than doing their best?
@dragonmom no? Not at all. I have no evidence either way. I always assume people are doing their best.
But most disasters in the US play out in approximately the same way. The poor, elderly, and disabled are left behind. Shelters don’t open until after disaster has hit. So first responders and other relief workers work as fast as they can to get these people out after the storm.
That’s who people are waiting for.
Frankly, I have zero idea how well FEMA and other agencies are staffed right now. I hope it’s better than the state dept (for example).
Many states have sent down their own vol Emergency Response Teams. Being willing to leave for other parts of the country is part of that commitment. Many church groups continued sending in volunteers to New Orleans, for years. The animal rescue folks from LA and other parts of Texas were there pretty quickly, or so I read.
But not everyone can be reached immediately.
The govt does have plans. How well they execute, don’t know. (Someone close to me was part of this planning, all sorts of scenarios and considerations.) States have routine ERT simulations or drills. But again, when it’s boots on the ground, I’m sure there are still issues.
My daughter is sitting in Florida this week waiting for instructions about Irma, but there is only so much they can do. Last year she and friends went inland to Orlando, and they were there a day before the storm shifted and Orlando got hit almost as hard as the coast. She was in the direct line, Al Roker and Ginger Zee were broadcasting about 3 blocks from her house, and the only issue was the she lost electricity and a few palm frongs. At her boyfriend’s house a few blocks away, they didn’t even lose power. Up the beach, much more damage. At one point her boyfriend’s father wanted them to just drive to NJ (they had a 4 day weekend that turned into a 6-7 day weekend). That would have been a disaster as I-95 had major damage and flooding in SC, and they would have had to drive hundreds of miles out of the way to get back.
Houston didn’t evacuate because there was really no where to go. Those who could went to Dallas or inland as far as they could. I really think they did an amazing job with that many people and that much water.
@dragonmom I’m not trying to say there weren’t valid reasons for the decision not to order an evacuation. I am only saying that I have lots less sympathy when people are told to evacuate, refuse to do so, and then complain when First Responders don’t want to risk their lives to try to rescue people who ignored the instructions. And that certainly happened during Hurricane Sandy.
It isn’t a door to door thing, but I have friends who are on call for the Red Cross in their area to volunteer in emergencies. Usually it is just nearby for fires, tornadoes, etc. But they have travelled farther afield for big disasters. They help serve food, hand out water, get shelters organized, etc. Eventually groups like one from my UU church has in the past will likely travel to the area and provide assistance with cleanup for some homeowners.
Here in Oregon waiting for our eventual devastating Earthquake we have been told to have
two weeks ability to live for our families plus at least 2 neighbors. The newest information
is that it could take a person up to two weeks to get over the river to their home.
I actually do not believe this particular information but am thinking about it at out of
our 7 bridges only about 3 are ready. Fortunately, where we live is most often a 6-10 miles
walk from work–except over water.
I have never thought about anyone coming to my house looking for me. This is an interesting thought.
Our part of the city is working on setting up emergency centers equipped with basic medical stuff
3 miles apart from each other that should be up and running within 3 days of the earthquake.
I intend to volunteer as soon as notified than ours is set up.
My biggest worry for anyone is actually the medicines one might need. I am super dependent on
thyroid and am a mess without. I worry about how someone will get their meds especially those who have a
serious situation. That and drinking water.
I have few friends who think this out but most people here just don’t.
I was in the first wave (3 weeks in) of Katrina as a mental health volunteer
and the lack of preparation was unbelievable. It was a nightmare for the people affected
and for the volunteers.
I am super happy that Houston has not been Katrina, however devastating.
So, no. I do not look at our government to do magic.
I’m wondering if we’ll get to the point where drones can deliver meds. Oregon, make sure to ask your doc how you could be prepared.
Kind of like Hunger Games? 
There’s been a few things reminding me of those books/movies lately…