If the so-called professionals in charge of Disaster Relief efforts can't figure out what ANY Eagle Scout (or any Mom for that matter) could specify in five minutes flat, here's how to handle a situation like the Haiti earthquake (or any other major disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina).
It's simple common sense.
MILITARY: DAY ONE - 6 STEPS
1. CHOOSE THE SITE AND ERECT BOUNDARIES:
Use Google earth satellite photos to select multiple sites. Choose the largest
open spaces closest to the disaster areas.
Use whatever works; parks,
fields, schools, stadiums, parking lots, national monuments, etc. Immediately
string inexpensive perimeter metal field FENCING around the entire area that
has been selected, in order to identify command center site boundaries, which
should include helicopter landing area, food distribution, hospital zones, and
rescue team tents. Erect portable antennas so that each area command center
is able to stay in contact with other sites. Site helicopter landing area so
that flights do not inadvertantly dislodge tents and tarps or injure aid workers
with flying debris.
2. ARMED BOOTS ON THE GROUND. Arrival of troops with related activity will signify that a plan of action to help is underway. The local populace is more likely to remain calm if they see immediate activity. Implement MASH scenario. Immediately helicopter in armed boots on the ground along with basics; Tarps, portable lighting and generators with fuel. Set up a command center with armed troops to maintain order at each specific site. POST ARMED GUARDS around the site perimeter.
3. PROVIDE SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS & AN ABUNDANCE OF PORTABLE SANITARY FACILITIES: Erect multiple shelter tarps along with medical/surgical tents and folding cots within the command center area. Erect tents/tarps intended for use of rotating teams of aid workers and military personnel. Erect multiple inexpensive tarps and portable latrines in groupings outside of the command center area intended for civilian congregation. Erect similar inexpensive tarps over roped off areas where civilians will be standing in line to receive food/water distribution as well as over line areas intended for those awaiting for medical aid.
3. MEDICAL PERSONNEL & SUPPLIES: Immediately ferry in the search and rescue teams, triage teams with appropriate medical and surgical personnel INCLUDING SPECIALISTS, medical/surgical tents and MORE THAN AMPLE medical supplies, along with an abundance of body bags.
4. CIVILIAN AID - DISTRIBUTE WATER & BABY FORMULA FIRST: Specify part of the guarded fenced area adjacent to helicopter landing zone as food/water distribution centers. Immediately ferry in water, baby formula (& diapers), and armed military personnel to distribute. Civilians would be instructed to line up to enter secured distribution area, receive water/baby formula, receive dated hand stamp to indicate receipt then follow line exiting the secured area. Portable signs in simple sign language would be displayed on fencing to avoid civilian confusion as to distribution procedure.
5. CIVILIAN AID - FOOD NEXT: Ferry in food supplies and integrate with water distribution lines.
6. TEMPORARY MORGUE, BURIAL SITE
& VICTIM ID PROCEDURE: Specify a staging area for a temporary morgue,
use digital photos, swabs for future ID of bodies. Upload names, numbers, descriptions
real-time to Red Cross or similar disaster website. Depending upon severity
of disaster, assume bodies will have to be quickly interred in mass graves to
prevent spread of disease. Specify appropriate burial area and requisition heavy
equipment as necessary. Future monument with names can mark final resting place(s).
SEND THIS TO THE PRESIDENT: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
SEND THIS TO YOUR SENATOR: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
SEND THIS TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
ONE OF THE MOST RECEANT DISASTERS WAS THE IMPOVERISHED COUNTRY OF HAITI. PEOPLE WERE DYING THERE BECAUSE OF SHEER INEPTITUDE.
REMEMBER HURRICANE KATRINA?. YOUR OWN CITY COULD BE NEXT.
DEMAND COMMON SENSE.
The address for this page is http://www.the-office.com/disaster-plan.htm
PRACTICAL RESOURCES: FAST, INEXPENSIVE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS FOR HOUSING, LIGHTING, & COOKING
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INEXPENSIVE
TEMPORARY DISASTER HOUSING $100 - $300. |
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LIGHTING
FOR PENNIES:
Start with empty soda bottles... |
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No firewood? No propane?
Solar Powered Cooking! A pressure cooker would be our first choice for the pot- Using pressure-cooking timetables one can cook a roast with vegetables and gravy, or a stew, or poultry with rice, and have the meat so tender it can be cut with a fork, in less than an hour's time. Using a pressure cooker instead of a traditional covered pot when using solar power can shorten cooking time, and avoid any possibility of food spoilage from cooking at too low a temperature. If you forget to turn the oven (to follow the sun) every 45-60 minutes (especially for the first 2 hours of cooking), it's possible for the temperature to quickly fall to an unsafe cooking temperature. No pressure cooker?
A wide mouth canning jar offers a practical alternative, because it has
a pressure releasing cap: "Plan B"; alternatives:
Global Sun Ovens were shipped to Haiti |