Brainstorm: What should FEMA do in NYC?

[RobertEarl]

I think if we put our heads together we can come up with some ideas that FEMA could use in NYC to get the most 'bang-for-the-buck'.

One thing that comes to mind is that electricity is a huge problem, so what kind of community centers could be set up to help? I notice many people are looking for places to recharge their phones, etc.

Refrigeration is a biggie. Hot water. Etc.

So come on, put on your thinking cap and imagine you are in NYC and what would you need and how would you go about making sure you got what you need?

[flamingdem]

1. People without power may also lack heat

and a place to cook. Maybe some restaurants with power could offer low cost meals and let people hang out in the evening for warmth. You know, community vs. turning over tables.

[RobertEarl]

3. Good one

Yes, FEMA could supply the food and power via a generator and the restaurant could supply the kitchen and space.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

2. I'd want a shower and clean clothes...

And maybe a Big Gulp, heh.

[RobertEarl]

4. I saw rolling bathrooms after Katrina

Rolling laundromats, too.

I wonder how many of those FEMA has?

[RobertEarl]

5. I'm not a city guy,

Live out in the country, so I have to make do a good bit of the time.

If I found myself in a city I'd be a bit like Crocodile Dundee. Still, there are universal problems, right? And some not so universal.

Transportation... fuel....repairs...

Food... comes from a long way off....

Water... NYC at least has a ready and good supply, except for the tops of towers.

Elevators... how long will the power be out? Does FEMA need to get power to elevators like - yesterday?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

6. ooohhhh, getting evil.....

Fema will and should do its utmost,

But as far as Wall street is concerned.... let loose a rouge drone to take out the damn bull statue. And I say Black helicopters all around; scooping up 1%rs from their Mc Mansions, and detaining them in leaking fetid sports facilities. Then hold on them indefinitely on a grand jury witch hunting expeditions with no charges until they break and squeal..........

OK,
the otherwise every day folk........... Do everything damn possible to get their lives back together!

[Marrah_G]

7. LED flashlights, batteries, blocks of ice and free WiFi hot spots with charging stations

[politicat]

8. UPS stations, British Restaurants,

A standard home uninterruptible power supply can charge 30-50 phones in groups of 6, over the course of about 30 minutes each. (this being an Occupy trick.) Combine with a British kitchen system, so people can check in their phones, then get a meal and a place to sit quietly or otherwise restore their equanimity for a few minutes. A coffee truck or ten with UPS available would probably help enormously with morale. 4 $60 ups in series (2 charging, two in use) should be able to charge 250 phones in 6 hours or so.

Also, bicycle chargers, wherever they can be placed. 30 minutes on a bike will charge several devices, give some psychological down time to the person pedaling and give a bit of an endorphin rush to help cope.

From Wikipedia: British Restaurants were communal kitchens created during the Second World War to ensure communities and people who had run out of rationing coupons were still able to eat.
They were set up by the Ministry of Food and run by local committees on a non-profit making basis. Meals were purchased for a set maximum price of 9d (equivalent to just under 4p, about $2 US or £1 GBP in purchasing power 2008) or less. No-one could be served with a meal of more than one serving of meat, game, poultry, fish, eggs, or cheese.[1] Restaurants in the UK were not subject to rationing but some restrictions were placed on them, for instance no meal could be more than three courses and the maximum price was five shillings (equivalent to 25p today, but $10 or £5 in buying power 2008).

NYCs food trucks, diners and carts are a good place to start. Things like hummus salad sandwiches, soup, noodles in a simple sauce, wraps, limited topping pizza - I.e. short list of ingredients, minimal choices, more vegetarian than not (for food safety issues and because carnivores can eat veggie cuisine, while veggies have more difficulties there.)

There are laundry trucks available (tide has one, with own genie and fuel) which would help.

Quiet zones in shelters, activity spaces in same. People need the ability to interact and the ability to withdraw. Sleep masks and earplugs help.