Some people still don’t get it
Posted on: November 13, 2012My local newspaper has a feature where folks can call and leave a message with their opinion on pretty much anything. The paper then runs a column a couple times a week where they print those opinions. Naturally, some seem better informed than others and I suspect the editor of the paper picks and chooses to find the more…entertaining…opinions on certain issues.
Think of this as something akin to verbal letters to the editor, I guess.
In a recent column, one of the callers had left their opinion about the government’s response to Hurricane Sandy out on the east coast. I don’t have the paper in front of me so I can’t quote it word for word but essentially the person was upset that the government wasn’t doing more to help out folks who are still without power, food, or water. For the record, as of right now we’re about two weeks since the storm made landfall in New York and New Jersey.
Agreed, there are millions of people still reeling from the storm. While power has been restored to most of them by now, there are still people without electricity. Food and fresh water are scarce in some areas even now.
Here’s the thing though. Those residents had plenty of notice things were going to get ugly. For at least a week, authorities were hammering on people — stock up on food, water, fuel, and emergency supplies. TV, radio, newspapers, and the Internet were all used to get the word out. I can’t imagine how the average citizen could possibly have missed the message.
And yet, despite all the warnings and advisories, millions of people were caught with their proverbial pants around their ankles. Not enough food in the home to last even a day or two, no stored water, nothing.
I’ve always felt that every citizen should do whatever they are capable of doing when it comes to disaster readiness. By doing so, they free up government aid and resources to go to those who truly need them. If you can afford a $5 latte every day on your way to work, you can afford to set food aside for emergencies. If you can afford to go out and buy the new iPhone when it is released, you can afford a generator and some fuel. If you can afford to buy a new car every other year, you can afford all the emergency supplies you’d need for at least a couple weeks off the grid.
Resources for recovery, whether from a storm, earthquake, or whatever, are not infinite. It is ridiculous to assume a disaster the size of Katrina or Sandy can be resolved in a day or two. If you’re told a hurricane is going to hit your area in three days and you figure Walmart will be open the day after landfall, well, that’s just plain dumb.
Hurricane Sandy was not the first mega-storm to hit the U.S., nor will it be the last. And yet, there will always be these people who just don’t get it.
(DW) Think you missed a part of the artical ..” .I’ve always felt that every citizen should do whatever they are capable of doing when it comes to disaster readiness. By doing so, they free up government aid and resources to go to those who truly need them. ” …..aid would go faster to the people who need them … like if they had burnt to the ground they would receive aid faster .
While I agree with you, the hardest areas suffering are mostly lower income, etc, some had their home burned down (there goes all your preps).
It’s hard to point fingers but you have to admit that sometimes whole groups of people simply cannot stock up, store up, etc.
I’m a firm believer in prepping but there is only so much I can do and so far my dollar will go.
I do acknowledge the fact that there will aways be government leeches with a perpetual hand out wanting someone to do for them what they refuse to do for themselves but you do have to admit that there might be an equal amount of people out there that simply cannot.
There is no easy answer and sometimes you just have to shake your head, suck it up and move on.