Re-Engineering the Nation's Disaster Response Processes
by Kitty Taylor
BCLC issued a new report yesterday, offering expert analysis, lessons learned, and recommendations for a better disaster management system.
"On the Brink: Re-Engineering the Nation’s Disaster Response Processes" is a collection of 27 articles by emergency-response professionals. Writers represent corporations, local chambers of commerce, federal and local government, academia, and humanitarian-aid organizations.
BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan (far l.), along with the Small Business Administration’s Steve Smith (center l.), Google’s MJ Pizzella (center r.), and George Washington University's George Haddow (far r.), announced the report at a press briefing at the U.S. Chamber headquarters.
Online access and a recording of the press briefing are available online. Printed copies are available upon request. Call 202-463-3133 or email BCLC.
It's not rocket science. It's more like military logistics, and we're good at that, right? Do what we have been doing at Diego Garcia and throughout the Middle East, but for a different kind of mission: preposition food and water, fuel, port-a-potties, basic sanitary items, tents, medical supplies, clothing. Those things could have been helicoptered into the New Orleans football stadium. Or we could refuel rescue helicopters in flight if that helps them loiter over a flood area longer. UAV drones could identify where survivors are most heavily concentrated. How about a Navy hospital ship where medical cases could be helicoptered? Hovercraft and amphibious vehicles for land/water mobility/transport? And didn't we use an old aircraft carrier as some base of operations during Enduring Freedom-- if housing gets to be a problem, we could either use old ships or temporarily use cruise ships? We're not thinking deeply enough. The military has vast logistics capability that should have been applied in New Orleans, and could be applied to the next disaster.
Posted by: Chris Marsh | July 14, 2008 at 05:16 PM