Hurricane Katrina, like no other disaster before it, exposed the weaknesses of local, state and federal emergency preparedness and response. The death and destruction caused by that storm prompted the states threatened by Rita to intensify their own planning, and the hurricanes have served as a wakeup call across the nation.
Officials in Connecticut, Washington state and Virginia said days after Katrina struck that they were testing and evaluating their emergency systems and plans. In some states, such as Maryland – where a hotly contested gubernatorial race is coming up – politicians were sparring over readiness efforts. Indeed, that was another lesson of Katrina, was it not? The clash between the Democratic governor in Louisiana and the Republican Bush administration reportedly slowed rescue efforts early on and led to a vigorous blame game later on. In Maryland, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate wrote the Republican governor requesting that the state update its plans in the wake of Katrina. The request apparently nettled the governor.
Sounds awfully familiar. We only hope the same is not happening in Colorado. Almost immediately after Katrina hit, Congressman Mark Udall sent a letter to Gov. Bill Owens calling for a summit of state, local and federal officials to make sure the state is prepared for a large-scale disaster. Seems like an awfully good idea, even an obvious one. The governor has not responded. We wish he would.
What are we supposed to do?
Owens’ press secretary, Dan Hopkins, says the governor plans to meet with emergency officials sometime in the future for a “debriefing” session. Hopkins said the state’s emergency coordination systems passed with flying colors after Katrina when the state agreed to take storm evacuees. “On Friday at 6 p.m. before Labor Day, he agreed to accept evacuees,” Hopkins said. By Saturday morning, 35 agencies had convened around a plan to identify and house 1,000 people, he said. “It was a massive undertaking” that involved agencies from police and fire to RTD, the Red Cross and churches. “Because a plan existed for an emergency response, we were able to contact them quickly, and in 12 hours get them together,” Hopkins said.
That sort of complacency leaves a lot to be desired. Mustering the logistics to process 1,000 evacuees is hardly a test of the state’s readiness for a disaster – whether a historic snowstorm or a terrorist’s biochemical attack.
Here’s our concern: For all the assurance by state officials that Colorado’s emergency response plan has been tested, we’ve yet to hear anything about what everyday citizens are supposed to do in the event of a huge disaster. If there is one lesson the state should learn from Katrina, it’s that the so-called first responders – police, firefighters, ambulance crews – are not always first to respond. We have no doubt that they’re ready, but the ability of those agencies to function immediately after a disaster could be wiped out. Citizens were often the first responders in Louisiana and Mississippi when Katrina blew in.
“There’s been a tendency to assume that [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] is a national 911 that will be on your doorstep the next day,” says Russell Dynes, founding director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware. “The story of preparation starts at the local level.”
Don’t count on aid too quickly
Robert Thompson, spokesman for the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross, agrees. “We have learned – quite frankly the hard way with regard to Katrina – that you can’t only count on officials to care for you,” said Thompson. “They have their plans and will put them in place as soon as possible, but there’s also an individual responsibility. Each family needs to have a disaster plan in place.” That could include an evacuation route. Dynes said that only a few states are working to prepare their citizens. California is educating the public to understand that in a large-scale disaster they must be prepared to go it alone for at least the first 24 hours.
The American Red Cross advises citizens to stockpile enough supplies for people and pets to last a minimum of three days and as long as two weeks. Essentials include water, nonperishable food and fresh batteries. A battery-powered radio or TV, can opener and utensils are a must along with first aid, sanitary supplies and medications. (See www.preparecolorado.org for more information.)
“When you look at search and rescue, you’re looking at neighbors who happen to be around,” said Dynes. “The neighbors know who needs help, who is disabled or isolated. Emergency response is becoming more professionalized. They forget it’s a citizen involvement.”
Let’s face it: We can’t pass judgment on the true state of preparation among state and local officials, nor their readiness to coordinate with federal civilian and military support. We trust they are taking smart steps, even extraordinary ones, for the day no one wants to experience.
What many of us know about ourselves is that we’re not ready, or at least we don’t feel ready. As Gov. Owens prepares for his debriefing session with emergency responders, we hope he’ll leave politics aside and consider a summit or whatever method will help educate Coloradans about what we need to know and what we should have on hand to prepare us for a possible disaster.
Do you keep your cellphone charged up? Do the kids know where you put the emergency “go” bag? If the bad guys set off a dirty bomb, do you run for it or close the windows and stay put? If we get hit by an ice storm and lose electricity, who’ll check on the old folks across the street?
