Wilma-weary Floridians wait (12) hours for basic supplies (ice, 3 waters)

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: Wilma-weary Floridians wait hours for basic supplies
'All that time. This is all we get?'
Wednesday, October 26, 2005


MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Two days after Hurricane Wilma, Floridians faced the unpleasant prospect Wednesday of waiting in lines for hours to get basic necessities such as water and ice.

Thousands of frustrated North Miami residents stood in line for nearly 12 hours Tuesday for a bag of ice and three bottles of water.

"All that time. This is all we get?" asked 23-year-old Fanie Aristil, speaking to The Associated Press after waiting nine hours for the supplies. (Watch angry Floridians on FEMA response to Wilma -- 1:19)

Frances Marine, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urged Floridians to be patient, AP reported.

"People will have their needs met," Marine said. "The bottom line is that there's a plan in place."...


http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/10/26/wilma/index.html

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. "The bottom line is that there's a plan in place."...

That sounds a lot like "it's the thought that counts."

Just a few short years ago, FEMA was an effective agency...the "let them eat cake" crowd has made sure that is no longer so.

[lastliberalintexas]

14. Yes, it's part of The Plan

The more incompetent government is, the less patience the populace has for it. If FEMA (and other programs) doesn't work, there will be less opposition to cutting them and/or their funding.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. Agreed. Can't remember which magazine it was that had the cover

shortly after Katrina but the title was:

HOW BUSINESS CAME THROUGH WHERE GOVERNMENT FAILED

[KaryninMiami]

2. Thank goodness someone is telling the real story about Wilma

I'm sick of hearing how much "better prepared" we were down here then they were in New Orleands. If Wilma had been the same size as Katrina or Rita or if we'd had anywhere near the amount of flooding, we'd be in the same place New Orleans was in. Know why ice never showed up in once place where hundreds waited for 6 hours? They were using cell phones to communicate and couldn't therefore, coordinate the ice delivery to the distribution center. Wouldn't you think they would have learned that lesson from Katrina?

[lastliberalintexas]

12. They didn't learn anything from Katrina except

how to better mask their incompetence, ie the national media pretends everything is fine and dandy and moves on to other stories. I hope you guys get treated better than we have, but since this isn't an election year I'm afraid y'all will get screwed too.

Glad you made it through though!

[underpants]

3. Aren' t they supposed to be blaming them for having a hurricane hit them?

Things sure have changed since New Orleans.

[ixion]

4. no, the bottom line is that the response sucks

not that there is a plan.

A plan is nothing more than a thought. Sans action, it means nothing.

[cantstandbush]

5. All this after Katrina. Makes my head spin. n/t

[brooklynite]

6. I'm confused...

I thought only Democratic Governors were inefficient at preparing for and providing emergency services.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Good point! No mention of Jeb in any of this coverage? nt

[Rainscents]

8. My same thought!

[William Seger]

19. Uh, YEAH, and didn't Jeb say he had everything covered?

Wasn't waiting for FEMA?

[Rainscents]

9. This sounds like NO again!!! Same shit, different day!

Frances Marine, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urged Floridians to be patient, AP reported.

This statement was told to NO... be patient, FEMA is coming! Whatta bunch of crock of shit!

[Miss Chybil]

10. I'm sorry, but people have a responsibility to get their own supplies

prior to being hit by a hurricane. They know what it's like. Not only have they lived through them, they watched the aftermath of Katrina. After that, I would NEVER depend on the government to take care of my needs. NEVER. I understand the people on the east coast of Florida were taken by surprise, but you know what? When you live in hurricane country, you need to have emergency supplies stockpiled at all times. I know you can't stockpile ice, but you should have things on hand to eat that don't need refrigeration. You should have battery powered radios, matches, canned goods, or MREs. WATER. WATER. WATER. First aid kit. Cash and perhaps a can of gas, if you can store it safely. There are a lot of people on this planet now and we must realize governments are incapable of meeting their needs in a crisis.

Yes, the government has an obligation to help. They have an obligation to rescue. They have an obligation to do whatever it takes to assist their citizens in need. I think their biggest obligation, however, is in teaching people how to prepare for disaster and how to increase their chances for survival. They have an obligation to define and implement safe evacuation procedures and they need to make sure there are enough ways to get out of disaster prone areas, so evacuations don't become disasters in themselves. They should NOT hold themselves out as White Knights who will ride in to save the day - thus causing people to depend on them only to be disappointed, or worse, dead. The best assistance a government can give its citizens is encouraging preparedness before disaster strikes. After a blast from Mother Nature, or a bomb, it's any-body's game. Barring being hearded like cattle into, and imprisoned at gun point in, an enclosed area with tens of thousands of thirsty and hungry people with no toilets and no medicine, if you make it through the storm, or blast, or fire, or flood, your first defense against disaster is your own responsibility.

Flame away... I'll be filling water bottles. Just in case.

On edit: And, yes, I realize your entire home and stockpile can be blown away. My rant applies, if it's not.

[Mojorabbit]

13. I totally agree

I live in Orlando. We have been through this enough times to know what to do. Having three to five days food and water is doable for almost everyone. Freezing some gallon jugs of water beforehand will both give drinking water and keep a cooler cold for a few days. South fl had almost a week to get ready knowing the storm was coming their way. I say suck it up.
There are those who have losts their home.Elderly who need help. They should be first for aid.
What ever happened to Personal responsibility.

[malaise]

18. That is easy for those of us who have the resources to

own large igloos, etc. That is also easy for those of us with access to credit or savings. Remember just like Katrina, this hurricane hit Florida a few days before 'end of month' payments. My friends and relatives aren't in those lines but that's because they can afford to be prepared for five days of inconvenience.

[lastliberalintexas]

15. I'm happy that you and I can afford to stock up

There really are some people who do not have the money to simply have even a week's worth of food and water on hand in case of emergencies.

[Miss Chybil]

17. Poleez. If there wasn't an emergency they would still eat, wouldn't they?

Ok. I agree there are people who don't know where there next meal is coming from. Heck, sometimes I wonder myself. But, five days will go by whether it rains, snows, sleets, or hails and it will go by even if the sky is blue and the birds are singing. Those living in poverty are going to be poor no matter what the weather. They need help. No doubt about it. But, excluding the mentally and physcially incapacitated, there is nothing keeping "poor" people from filling up a few jugs of water when there is a hurricane on the way. People are very resourceful, rich or poor, when they are not being led to believe "somebody else" is going to take care of them. Should they be expected to battle the elements on their own forever? Of course, not. But, we all should be prepared for, at least, 24 hours of hardship - five days, would be optimum. This is what the government should be doing. Teaching us all what we need to know to survive without them, or at least, until they can get to us to help us. It's what a good parent would do. It's what a good government would do.

[Mojorabbit]

20. I agree

Filling up containers with water prior to the storm, a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. Should have planned it at the beginning of hurricane season. Sorry, I realize that there might be a small percentage of people who could not afford this but I think the majority could. It is a fact of life if you live here that there is the possibility of hurricanes and you need to be prepared to last a few days. This leaves the supplies available for those who do lose everything and truly need it.

[gauguin57]

11. "Jebby, yer doin' a HECKUVA job!"

What-evah!

[ECH1969]

21. That is sad

[goodboy]

22. They fucked up every single hurricane this year! (nt)