EMERGENCY ACTION PLANNING > Blog > Planning > You will be Alone
You will be Alone
EMS will be stretched to the limit. Will anyone come to your aid? Will anyone be able to come to your aid?
Copyright: amasterpics123 / 123RF Stock Photo
“We realized that when a disaster happened, whether an earthquake, storm or terrorist activity, the people on the scene were actually the first responders and, in a major event, they were often the only responders for possibly long periods of time.”
– Frank Lucier, San Francisco FD Retired
Resources will immediately be directed to search and rescue, getting the roads open, hospitals open, restarting the infrastructure.
I am of the opinion that my name will not be on any master list that say. “Quick, go pull Daniel’s fat out of the fire. Nope, won’t happen. Though there might just be such a list, most of us are not on it. So what does that mean? We will have to fend for ourselves.
Unfortunately historical evidence has shown that many First Responders will abandon their posts during the onset and aftermath of an emergency or disaster. I have no intention to demean the valiant work these men and women do on a daily basis, but they are human. And they will be more interested in protecting their family and loved ones. Their very safety may be at risk because of civil unrest, or they will be frustrated by the lack of adequate resources that will allow them to perform as they want to. Hopefully some communities are developing resources that will enable the First Responders to remain on post knowing that their families and loved ones are safe and secure.
Sadly the 2015 movie San Andreas depicts the hero abandoning his post to rescue his family and loved ones. Obviously he did not have an Emergency Action Plan in place. Not a positive meme to portray as acceptable behavior.
Statistical evidence shows that First Responders are no more prepared to respond to a disaster that the general citizenry. (FEMA, 2016)
The general consensus in the Emergency Planning Community is to prepare for a minimum of three days isolation. That’s what most all of the handouts and checklists supplied by FEMA and the ARC say.
Will three days of meager rations and water be enough? I don’t think so. First of all, if you have been proactive and evacuated the affected area. Things might be better. Have you prepositioned couple of weeks of supplies at an offsite location? If you waited too long to leave you will be either sheltering in-place, or relying on a public shelter that might be up and running in your community. You won’t be alone then.
During the creation of your Emergency Action Plan you should be aware of the possibility that you and yours will be on your own until responding relief agencies can get you out. The infrastructure has been restored to an acceptable level. Or you can get to a safer place.
References
FEMA. (2016). Ready Responder. Retrieved March 23, 2016, from www.ready.gov: https://www.ready.gov/responder
Till Next Time
“Be Safe”