Response to Disasters

Isn’t it amazing how “we” have a need to blame a person, or political party, we don’t like for something that has gone wrong regardless if the blame is deserving. Are “we” that insecure that we have to make ourselves feel better by “tearing” down another (or at least their reputation)?

Democrats were relentless in their attacks on George W. Bush and Republicans following Hurricane Katrina (some criticism was justified but not most), yet seemed to ignore the democrats in power at the local and state levels that refused to activate their emergency evacuation plans, or to even declare a state of emergency that would have allowed more of a federal response sooner. People also seemed to suffer amnesia about the fortifications and improvements that had been paid for not being done.

Oh, don’t get defensive; the Republicans aren’t squeaky clean in this area either. You have the current disaster in the Gulf, then there is Three Mile Island, Exxon Valdez, I could go on and on for both parties. While Oil continues to gush out at anywhere from 5,000 to 40,000 barrels per day Congress is holding hearings. People have to take time away from trying to figure out how to stop this in order to travel to Washington so Congress can have a photo op. Oh, and while we’re at it lets crash BP stock value. I’m not siding with BP, but if you expect the company to pay for the cleanup, for stopping the “leak”, for the economic impact to companies, communities, individuals, BP has to remain solvent (no pun intended).

I have a novel concept; put the blame where it belongs. However, fix the problem first so it won’t happen again! You would think that the government would learn from the past and correct problems regarding the response to emergencies and disasters, but they still screw up! Sorry but there is no other way to describe it, if the government were a person he/ she would have been diagnosed as being ADD and put on medication a long time ago. Had there been the internet, Blogs, YouTube, and 24 hour cable news when the Exxon Valdez occurred I bet the public outcry would have been even greater.

As I mentioned in my previous posting I think a part of the problem is career politicians, and that is a shame because they should be able to point to the “Fed” response to disasters as a shining example of why we need to have a career/ experienced Congressman or woman. Instead people are able to use it as a glaring example of what’s wrong, or how having career politicians is a detriment to public safety. Since twenty years (20) seems to be a “bench mark” that is commonly used, let me use that time period to illustrate my point. Instead of making an all inclusive list I’m only going to talk about those events that I’ve been affected by, or involved in personally with the exception of the current Oil Spill/ disaster taking place in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Andrew At the time it was the worst storm to affect the U.S. since tracking had begun. I was working for the Miami Police Department at the time and had family and friends living in the southern part of Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). Private industry responded much quicker than government. After the first couple of days when it was apparent that governments (Federal and state) weren’t reacting to the aftermath and devastation, law enforcement officers from around the country volunteered and came down to help (they worried about their entity approving after the fact). When the government finally reacted, Army Airborne and National Guard troops were sent to help patrol the area. Other branches eventually set up flights to move materials and equipment into the area. However, the beauocracy was such that curfews, roadblocks, checkpoints and curfews were in place until after the New Year.

9/11 Terror Attacks First let me say something positive, I was impressed as I watched the endless line of aircraft approaching to land at Miami International Airport. They kept coming in one immediately after the other, we commented that a pilot better not slow down or hesitate once his wheels touched down or else he/ she would have another aircraft run them over.

Also, for those that like to criticize government employees and the “unions”, this part is for you.


When the attacks occurred, many police departments, like Miami PD, contacted NYPD and offered help. They were told that no help was needed (NYPD seemed indignant that others would think they needed help). Some of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) officers contacted the New York State Lodge to see if they needed help and to let them know what NYPD’s response was to the offers. The NY FOP people called NYPD, the governor, and others and expressed what they thought of the attitude and refusal of help. Within hours NYPD apologized, admitted that the situation was more than they could handle alone and welcomed help.

Those government, public employee union people that it is so fashionable to criticize now responded to New York and D.C. to help. They went on their own; using personal time rather than wait for some bureaurocrat to make a decision, and not worrying about if their entity would cover them if they got injured. All they knew was that people, citizens and fellow emergency service brethren needed help.

As far as the first crew from Miami were concerned it was time to pay back NYPD for their help after Hurricane Andrew. NYPD people and the NY FOP were among the first to respond to us after Andrew, they came with food, clothing, construction supplies, and the determination to stand posts and go on patrol so we could get some rest and care for our families. One final thought about those that responded to 9/11, despite the health issues that many are suffering that have been linked to their being in NY or at Ground Zero, I have yet to meet anyone that would not respond all over again even knowing what they do now.

Then there was Hurricane Katrina and the current oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. You would have thought that “we” had learned and stopped publicizing these disasters, that we would respond first, help those in need and then afterwards determine the true cause and deal with it. However, we still have to place blame immediately, even before we have any facts to support our position. Like the old saying “My mind’s made up, don’t confuse me with facts.”

When disasters occur our politicians just about kill each other trying to get in front of the TV cameras first. There are so many times and situations in which people can honestly (and justly) blame one party or the other, disasters should be one of those situations in which the politics takes a break. We’re never going to get any better at responding if we keep using the opportunity to verbally attack our opponents.

Give me a politician that will respond immediately, ensure that the damage is fixed and those in need and injured are taken care of. Then do a true fact finding investigation to learn the truth before placing blame without worrying if he had a good “sound bite” for the news, give me that and I’ll vote for that person for as long as they want to run.

The government’s response to disasters is a good reason for term limits. Yeah, you will lose experience, but what good has experience done us so far, has it stopped the spread of the oil into the marshes and wetlands? Maybe what we lose in experience will be overcome by a desire to care for our fellow citizen without concern for how we can profit. I’m to the point where enthusiasm and desire to do what is right, to employ the Golden Rule, is WAY MORE appealing than experience.

That’s My Opinion, What’s Yours

Miscellaneous Rant

I’ve been trying to pick one topic to write about but there has been so many things that I’m just going to RANT for a minute. It will be my own form of therapy (since is seems that everyone has to go to therapy to be successful or to seek redemption for some transgression), and it’s a lot cheaper than throwing my coffee mug at the TV.

1.
Speaking of going into therapy and seeking redemption, I am WAY PAST being sick of hearing about Tiger Woods! First let me say that I don’t agree, approve, or condone what he did. Having said that, he is a human being and as I’m sure we all can admit human beings make mistakes. This is between him and his family, and in addition to Tiger being to blame, don’t we deserve a little blame? We as a society love to find someone with a talent who becomes a success at something, then we put them up on a pedestal and praise and emulate them. Once we’ve put them up on that pedestal, built up their ego and made them rich, we knock them down and pummel them. It is like a sport to us, but we’re not satisfied with that, then we have to drag their family through the mud as well. Don’t we also deserve a little of the blame treating celebrities’ as if they are a better class then we are, which inflates the ego even more and in some cases makes the person believe that they are allowed to do whatever they want because they’re special.

2.
Those of you that know me, or have been kind enough to follow my writings know that I have been a law enforcement officer for over 29 years. I’ve also been involved in one form or another in an organization representing law enforcement officer for 23 years. I’ve also been on the management side.

I have got to the point that I REALLY have to practice restraint and keep from throwing something at the TV, or ripping the radio out of the dashboard when I hear these “talking heads” and other so called experts start blaming government employees for the country’s economic situation, or generalizing about unions and saying that they are to blame for the economic woes! Those types of generalizations are the same as saying that reporters plagiarize and/ or fabricate the articles and books that they write.

While we’re at it why don’t we blame Al Gore for all the child pornography and child exploitation that is taking place, after all he once claimed to have invented the internet and a lot of these crimes are occurring via the internet. I’m going to write more about this later.

3.
If you believe the latest studies my life expectancy is approximately another 23 to 25 years. No matter how much time I have left I only hope I live long enough to see the day that George W. Bush and/ or Dick Chaney won’t be blamed for a current problem. OMG, ENOUGH ALREADY, PLEASE!!!!!! Now they’re being blamed for the Oil Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Federal Government’s response is another item that I will dedicate more time to, but do we have to politicize EVERYTHING? At this rate we’ll be blaming Benjamin Harrison, or maybe Zachary Taylor for the next problem or disaster! I’ve got a novel idea; fix the problem and then figure out who’s responsible! WOW, imagine what would happen if that was what occurred. People might actually have respect for, and confidence in the government again!

Along that line of thought, not all republicans are bad and not all democrats are good. There are good honest caring people in both. I believe a big part of the problem was demonstrated in some of the recent primaries when an incumbent that had been in Congress for over 20 years talked about his loss ending his political career. That’s the problem, Congress was not intended to be a career, the thought was that you go to Congress for a couple of years deal with some issues of concern to your area and then return to your life. You were supposed to have a profession other than Congress.

It is getting harder and harder for me to keep my breakfast down when I hear a member of Congress complaining about the pay and benefits government, or union workers receive. Let me ask you a question about your current job, can (or could) you retire after only working for six (6) years and receive a minimum pension or approximately $66,000.00 a year for the rest of your life as well as health insurance? If you said yes you are a member of Congress.

I seem to remember an old saying that everything old is new again. If that is the case I long for the day when personal responsibility is in fashion again.

THAT’S MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS