City of Graymoor-Devondale

Are we prepared for an emergency?

Posted in: Graymoor-Devondale

I aam sure everyone is aware of the disaster caused by "Sandy". Watching the latest news and comments it calls my attention that (unless  I am not aware of it)we don't have a disaster plan. I don't mean Louisville, I mean Graymoor-Devondale.  We live inside a bubble that at anytime can burst, false sense of safety and security. Yes we don't have a nearby ocean but we can have tornadoes etc even earthquakes.  If we need shelter where do we go? Is there a plan to provide food, water.  Do we have any food and water reserved for emergencies? If there is no power for several days do we have generators?.  Are we aware how many children and elderly that may need help getting out of their homes or special needs?  What is the chain of command?  We can't expect Louisville to provide all of that . Just read what hapenned to Staten Island it is unbelievable, FEMA didn't even have them on their map? They were completely ignored and on top Mayor Broomberg, wanted to continue the preparations for the giant marathon (cancer research benefit) I don't know where his head was, possibly had too many things on his lap and poof forgot about the homeless sheltered in the hotels, that the marathon was going to start at Staten Island and if not for public outcry he would still be having the same plan.  Can anyone imagine the surprise and sadness of the islanders when there were several huge generators brought over, not for them, but for the benefit of the Marathon participants?  Those generators could have been used for them or even to help some of the gas stations pump gasoline and provide relief for the people who were waitng for many hours to get some gas for their vehicles or to provide heat for their families. New York and New Jersey, huge metropolis quite modernized and usually self sufficient but brought to their knees for lack of power. Why. due to a false sense of nothing can affect us.   In a case of a serious emergency, where will the power be restored first?  I  read an article about how different parts of the world react to disasters. It is worth mentioning that in Mexico , for example in tourist resorts, or people who are used to "suffer" the importunity of a Hurricane here  and there, they don't wait for the Gov. to do anything.  The neighbors help each other and they know what to do. As soon as the hurricane passes by, they come out and start cleaning and attempting to normalize their lives asap, why, because they depend on it. We on the other hand expect our Gov. to make desicions for us, why, because we pay taxes?  I know that everyone here is always thinking how to make their homes more marketable and with curve appeal but more important is our home efficiency, can in case of emergency provide safe refuge, can we be an independent neighborhood? Meaning, efficient, prepared and everyone knowing what to do.  I personally became interested in learning how to make solar pannels (have to be installed by an expert and have to get a license etc) but for small projects we don't.  Well, if we don't have gasoline then we could count on solar heat or whatever.  Attempting to be a self sustaining neighborhood doesn't mean be isolated from other neigborhoods in fact mutual communication would be part of the efficiency.  I used to work for the Federal Gov as such I was identified as one of the fisrt responders. We used to have a very explicit manual which indicated who for example declared the emergency, who would communicate to the identified rest of the chain and so on.  I am not who to tell anyone what to do, I hope someone reads my post for I know it is long but our Mayor and rest of the Graymoor-Devondale counsel if they see fit to address the idea, I would love to hear about it. Thanks.

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