"Where the **** is the cavalry on this one?"

[wwicko]

In Hurricane Andrew, approximately 20,000 gaurdsmen were deployed to assist the US Army.

Today, the National Gaurd is stating that 100,000 gaurdsmen are available for deployment throughout the US.

I wonder if the the Gaurd will be assisting the Army in this disaster, or will the Gaurd be taking the lead?

Given the geoghrapic area of this destruction compared to Andrew, I wonder how much total manpower will be required?

I wonder how much of the reserve must be retained for other possible disasters?

[Air Force Met]

It has only been one day ...

IIRC, it was four days or so before National Guard got into our neighborhood in any significant numbers after Andrew. Much as we would like the response to be instant, it takes time to deploy resources.

I think I saw some story about relief efforts being staged somewhere in Alabama. I expect they'll be in action by tomorrow, which would be substantially faster than the response after Andrew.

The National Guard was in Punta Gorda after Charley that same evening...three hours after the eye went through.

OK...I am going to address this because there is some ignorance on how things work. As many of you know...I am a military met...and the people I support work directly with FEMA during times like this. So...I know exactly what is going on with the relief effort and the logistics.

The problem right now is getting into NOLA and MS. You can't. We have teams right now trying to cut their way in. This is a TOTALLY different scenario than Charley and even Andrew. You CANNOT compair the two and say "well...they got there quick during Charley."

It is a TOTALLY different situation. First of all...Charley was a sneeze compaired to this simply because of the area affected. Bridges are out and there is simply no way to get there except by air...and there are a limited number of helicopters.

Andrew was devestating...but it was a much smaller area. We had a 10-15' surge all the way over to mobile. To put this into perpective, that would be like having a 10-15' surge all the way up to West Palm Beach with Andrew.

Katrina is a massive disaster. Plans were in place before the storm...we have had a plan. The problem is there is no location to implement it...and getting there to begin with. Trust me...we are going as fast as humanly possible and there is NOTHING else that can be done any faster than it is now. Just because people want it to be fixed now...doesn't mean it can. When people actually work with FEMA...you understand how it works...and it is working the best as possible.

Please don't compair storms. Nothing compairs to this because of the magnitude. Trust me on this one...I work with these guys and I know the plans...and we just can't get there to inmplement it because the bridges are out...and the airports are too damaged (or still under water) to get the heavy airlift in...and you can't do a lot with helicopters other than search and rescue.

[debbiet]

For those who are angry or frustrated...Help is on the way, but getting into these areas is difficult at best! From a personal standpoint, my husband is now deployed with Virginia's Task Force 2 ~ a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Teams headed for Mississippi. He's been on a bus all night long and will be all day long today! I know that there are AT LEAST 6 or 7 (if not more) FEMA US&R teams on the way, and that 5 were staged just outside of the impact areas before Katrina ever made landfall. Please...instead of criticizing what you think isn't happening...remember that ALL of these leaders & rescuers need our prayers and our support. This is difficult and dangerous work at best which requires careful planning...not an off-the-cuff response. I feel absolutely certain that EVERYONE at EVERY level is doing all that they can possibly do...and we should recognize and support that.

Sorry for the rant...just my two cents worth.

[canegrl04]

I just saw a disgustng display.Looters at a Winn Dixie market All those people need to be taken out NOW.There needs to be military patrolling all the streets

[clfenwi]

About 35% of the LA Guard is in Iraq.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9117367/

Note that even if every single one of them were in LA, it wouldn't be nearly enough if you use Andrew as a guide (article states that 22,000 non-guard soldiers were brought in when it became clear that the task at hand was far larger than what 7,000 Guard soldiers could handle).

[RU4REAL]

Good post and thank you for that AFM.

[gtalum]

I just saw a disgustng display.Looters at a Winn Dixie market All those people need to be taken out NOW.There needs to be military patrolling all the streets

And how, exactly, do you propose to get the military there to patrol the "streets" (more like rivers or canals, at this point).

It takes time to implement this kind of plan.

[Downdraft]

Those that don't think help is coming haven't got a clue what it takes to mount a rescue/relief effort of this scope. You can sit in the relative comfort of your house drinking a cold one and type away at your leisure. The logistics of this operation would stagger your mind I'm sure. Massive staging areas have been set up in Florida, Texas, Georgia and other points. Problem one is the floods though. Sure help was there the same night after Charley and even Andrew. They didn't have to swim to get there. Until the Corp of Engineers gets the levee problem under control relief efforts are paralyized. Cool off and quit being an arm chair quarterback. We built a city below sea level and surrounded by water. The water will stop flooding New Orleans when one of two things happen; one, we fix the levees and pump it out or, two, the water level in New Orleans is at the same height as the water level in Lake Poncetrain.

[sweetpea]

I just saw a disgustng display.Looters at a Winn Dixie market All those people need to be taken out NOW.There needs to be military patrolling all the streets

And how, exactly, do you propose to get the military there to patrol the "streets" (more like rivers or canals, at this point).

It takes time to implement this kind of plan.

I might get flamed for this but here is something I posted on another post.

Hubby and I were just talking about the looters. We actually have some sympathy for the ones stealing FOOD. If there houses are gone they have no food. Help can't get in to them. How else are they going to survive? Hubby said if he was in their shoes he would do the same thing. The ones that are stealing material things ought to be arrested and the book thrown at them. (TV's, stereos, etc....) I feel for these people. I seen video with a older woman carrying food that won't perish. The one's stealing frozen food aren't to bright. But maybe there are some that will eat frozen pizza. First time I ever thought I would have sympathy for some looters. Debbie

[tallywx]

It has only been one day ...

IIRC, it was four days or so before National Guard got into our neighborhood in any significant numbers after Andrew. Much as we would like the response to be instant, it takes time to deploy resources.

I think I saw some story about relief efforts being staged somewhere in Alabama. I expect they'll be in action by tomorrow, which would be substantially faster than the response after Andrew.

The National Guard was in Punta Gorda after Charley that same evening...three hours after the eye went through.

OK...I am going to address this because there is some ignorance on how things work. As many of you know...I am a military met...and the people I support work directly with FEMA during times like this. So...I know exactly what is going on with the relief effort and the logistics.

The problem right now is getting into NOLA and MS. You can't. We have teams right now trying to cut their way in. This is a TOTALLY different scenario than Charley and even Andrew. You CANNOT compair the two and say "well...they got there quick during Charley."

It is a TOTALLY different situation. First of all...Charley was a sneeze compaired to this simply because of the area affected. Bridges are out and there is simply no way to get there except by air...and there are a limited number of helicopters.

Andrew was devestating...but it was a much smaller area. We had a 10-15' surge all the way over to mobile. To put this into perpective, that would be like having a 10-15' surge all the way up to West Palm Beach with Andrew.

Katrina is a massive disaster. Plans were in place before the storm...we have had a plan. The problem is there is no location to implement it...and getting there to begin with. Trust me...we are going as fast as humanly possible and there is NOTHING else that can be done any faster than it is now. Just because people want it to be fixed now...doesn't mean it can. When people actually work with FEMA...you understand how it works...and it is working the best as possible.

Please don't compair storms. Nothing compairs to this because of the magnitude. Trust me on this one...I work with these guys and I know the plans...and we just can't get there to inmplement it because the bridges are out...and the airports are too damaged (or still under water) to get the heavy airlift in...and you can't do a lot with helicopters other than search and rescue.

Good post. Thanks.

[NC George]

The one's stealing frozen food aren't to bright. But maybe there are some that will eat frozen pizza. First time I ever thought I would have sympathy for some looters. Debbie

If you need food today, it's bright. Frozen items are going to spoil within a day or two anyway, so why no steal what's going to go bad anyway?

[MBismyPlayground]

Help IS on the way..........Military Task force formed......
http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=72670

[Air Force Met]

Help IS on the way..........Military Task force formed......
http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=72670

We've got a command post set up...and an RTF (which is basically a disaster Task Force) on route.

[Florida_brit]

On the news last night there was an announcement that a disaster emergency plan was going to be put into action based on what had been drafted out in the last year or so post Ivan....they shouldn't need to make a plan they should have a plan that can be implemented and treaked ASAP!

[InimanaChoogamaga]

35% in Iraq?! So they are there fighting and dying to create Bush's new Islamic State instead of here to help their own city. That's just sad.

[tallywx]

35% in Iraq?! So they are there fighting and dying to create Bush's new Islamic State instead of here to help their own city. That's just sad.

Putting that political jab aside for a second, let's stick to the facts (and the facts speak for themselves)

*35% are in Iraq (whether it's justified or not is irrelevent)
*National Guard having an EXTREMELY difficult time recruiting new members in this country.

Hence: *National Guard unable to serve in an as robust a manner as the intention for their existence.

[JenBayles]

I heard a speech from the governer that of the 11,000 national guardsmen from Louisiana, only 3,000 of them are in Iraq.

[sponger]

Take it easy InimanaChoogamaga. The political forumn is that way! So sorry your politics can let you shut your mouth, even in the face of a national catastrophe

[x-y-no]

Once again ... can we <i>please</i> keep politics out of this?

[InimanaChoogamaga]

Take it easy InimanaChoogamaga. The political forumn is that way! So sorry your politics can let you shut your mouth, even in the face of a national catastrophe

ok. sorry.