[EAS] Preparedness and Survival Generalities

[Botterell, Arthur@CalOES]

Rod, the problem here is the way you're imputing or at least implying motives to the urbanites' behavior, and deriving a rationalization for inaction ("they aren't even trying!").  Giving up some degree of individual authority in favor of institutions isn't a moral failing in the city, it's the essential quid-pro-quo of living there.

But I'm glad you see the significance of spontaneous "neighbor rescue" efforts.  Seems to me that folks are taking plenty of responsibility... I can picture my lawyer having heart palpitations if he saw me out exposing myself to individual loss or liability the way those folks are.  That's not self-admiring macho out there, that's genuine courage.  So again, when I hear about this alleged dwindling of responsibility, I have to ask, "what are we talking about?"

Art

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Rod Zeigler

While I agree that there is a difference between urban and rural preparedness outlooks, I do not believe that there should be. Yes, in all cities and towns of any size people band together, and form government for the good of all. This includes utilities and other things. However, it seems that those in the urban areas have slowly been giving up their individual responsibility to that government (small g for a reason). I saw this in all of its glory in the derecho that hit the Washington, D.C. area about 5 years ago in July. No electricity, yet people were pulling up to gas pumps, putting the nozzle in the filler port, and then pounding on the door because the pump was dark. Oh, and the door had a CLOSED, NO POWER sign on it. A major golf tournament was going on in the area and watching the continuous coverage on TV from that venue I saw one chainsaw and a dozen people standing around with trees blown over in the background. It stayed that way for a few hours too. The saddest sight was some poor guy trying to cut up a tree that had fallen across his driveway, blocking his car in. He was going at the limbs with a steak knife.
Have we really gotten to the point, at least in the urban areas, that people just expect government to save them from everything? Granted great political hay can be made when emergency operations go wrong, but I seem to remember a hurricane heading for the coast (Sandy, maybe?) and the emergency management people said that if you do not evacuate by a certain time, no help would be coming, even if you called 911.
Maybe we need more of that. If you do not heed the warnings given, or get out of a known dangerous area, then you have no one but yourself to blame.
One thing the reporting in Texas keeps reiterating is how the people themselves are doing great rescue work with their own boats and vehicles, just like the Cajun Navy did in Louisiana a year or so ago. We need to engender that spirit elsewhere.
Those that know me even a little bit know I preach the gospel of individual preparedness every chance I get. I now see why there are estimates of 90% mortality given when discussing an EMP event. We, as a nation, have gotten too soft and dependent on government and technology.

Rod

--
R. V. Zeigler, Dir. of Eng.
Nebraska Rural Radio Assn.
KRVN-KTIC-KNEB-KAMI

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