Would You Be Able To Step Up In A Disaster & Help Lead People

[KittyWampus]

out of chaos?

If a catastrophic hurricane or something happened in your city or neighborhood, do you think you'd be able to keep your higher self intact?

I really wonder if this is something we need to read up on.

How to keep people cohesive in times of intense turmoil.

edit- sorry if this is too serious for the Lounge. But I was hoping for some personal answers.

[Birthmark]

1. Yes.

Yes I would.

[Nikia]

2. Of course I would

I wish that I lived closer to the diaster (perhaps a few hours drive away) so that I could be rescuing people at this moment. I am serious.

[skygazer]

3. I have

Not a natural disaster but a very bad fire. My girlfriend and I spotted it, called the fire department, evacuated the building and were busy getting the animals out of the first floor pet store when the engines arrived. We were 18 years old. It was a bad fire - a firefighter was killed in it when the roof collapsed but all the tenants and most of the animals were gotten to safety.

[KittyWampus]

4. like to think I could do the same. You two were those people's angels.

[Misunderestimator]

5. I would like to think I would.

I don't presume to know how I would actually react in such a situation though. But I certainly would want to try.

[LaurenG]

6. In our own little worlds I'd say yes

Just helping someone is all it takes. How do you keep people cohesive? You give them hope and something to work towards. All people want is love and exceptance anyway. Give them your own hope and go from their.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

7. Yes, I think I could................

I have kept my head in dire, life-threatening situations before.

[Thtwudbeme]

8. Yes. I was a paramedic and studied mass casualty incidents

it's not as easy as it sounds...and there are alot of issues with red tape crap in the US...

But, yes, I could get it done.

In fact, it's one of the only things I was ever good at. (sadly, I am seriously untalented. And no, I am not kidding to try to sound "humble." I can't do anything else right.)

Stephanie

[Misunderestimator]

9. :)

That post made me smile. :loveya: :yourock:

[Thtwudbeme]

12. Well...it's the sad truth!

Supposedly tomorrow morning, I will be able to tell you ALL the declensions of nouns in Latin....

Uh huh...that's gonna happen!

I WISH I had some talent...I wish I could make something, or be brilliant, or sing like you...but, sadly....zero!

Oh well...better get cracking on those damned nouns.

And adverbs. I am supposed to be learning adverbs.

Shit.

[Left_Winger]

10. I was in the National Guard when Hugo hit SC

I was originally in the Marines but sold myself to the National Guard after my active duty enlistment for more money for college.
In 1989 I was the Executive Officer of a company in the SCARNG and my unit was mobilized to go to the Charleston area for the hurricane (albeit Hugo was only a category 3).

Some of the things I saw freaked me out, the people I helped kept my sanity. I don't know where to begin to describe what we did and how we did it. Our primary mission was to open routes into the city and residential areas using chain saws to cut the trees which had fallen across the roads, to assist local law enforcement to protect property, maintain order at food and water distribution points and keep out the non-residents (we did this by checking driver's licenses to determine if the person really was from the immediate area), if they were not they were turned around. Our main problem were the phony "contractors" who took money from people to remove trees off of their houses, then never returned. There was some looting, but not much in the larger picture; most of it took place before we could enter our particular area. Finally the disaster freaks came out of the woodwork just to see what had happened. All in all I felt good about the assistance my troops and I rendered to the unfortunate people and their expression of gratitude was my reward.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask them.

[KittyWampus]

13. Would You Support National Service For All Kids? I Was So Close To

joining the military once upon a time. Learning the import of working with and for others seems kind of important right now.

[Left_Winger]

22. It depends on how National Service is defined

I would support if it centered around service in the Americorps, Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, etc. I am a teacher in a fairly wealthy school district and if these students who have so many privileges would not be allowed a manner of avoiding their responsibility, then I would be all for it; also, military service would have to be totally voluntary to gain my support for such legislation. I would also want a "no exception" type of policy; if your number is called, you go (excepting physical limitations).

[Arkana]

11. In all honesty? No, I'm not the leader type.

But that's why I'm not the President.

[LynzM]

14. Yes, if needed

I will take charge in a situation if someone needs to do so. If someone else is more suited to that role, I would let them do that and do what was asked of me. You do what you can with what you have, as they say.

[RevCheesehead]

15. Absolutely.

But our city/county has an emergency response team. Probably because we also have a nuclear power plant.

[KittyWampus]

17. Hey Rev, Actually...I Think Being A Leader Is Part Of Your Job Title

:hug:

[RevCheesehead]

19. Yeah, but you'd be amazed at how many pastors CAN'T lead.

Collective navel-gazing is rampant in my profession. Even in the higher levels.

Today was the first day our church and conference sent anything about the relief efforts being coordinated. I was tired of waiting, so I did a bit of research and got going on "Operation Floodbucket." Not just for our local congregation, but for the rest of our little city, and other churches in the area.
(link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4509720)

Hey, somebody's got to start the damned fire!

[WCGreen]

16. When faced with disaster in the past.....

I have always been able to do the right thing...

Now, with my hea;th the way it is, I fear such occurances....

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

18. I've never really been tested, but I think I can remain calm in a crisis

I'm pretty good at keeping my head while everyone else is losing theirs.

[elfrangel]

20. I certainly hope so....

currently in school studying to become a nurse.....I can only hope I have that ability. If not, I'll be in the wrong career.

[FourStarDemocrat]

21. Yes, as long as it doesn't req. huge physical strength or med knowledge

I would be good at cooking and distributing food, arranging equipment and supplies, comforting people. My twelve year old son said yesterday after watching some television coverage that he would like to join the Red Cross and help assist these people. I'm really proud of him and know that someday he'd be a great volunteer.

[RPM]

23. Yes - because I have many guns and a decent stockpile of food

one way to win friends and influence people in times of disaster.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

24. I had no idea I went through law school with such a force of nature!

[kick-ass-bob]

25. Yes, and I did.

Hurricane Fran, 1996.

Some people can do it, others can only focus one one thing at a time. The key is to identify what people can handle (give some a single task and they excel in it, others need to be jumping in and out whenever help is needed) and make sure they know they are being useful.

[ihaveaquestion]

26. Sure, I'm pretty good in times of crisis.

Afterwards, I fall apart, but then it's OK.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

27. Damn straight I could....

I am watching this mess in NO and realizing I could do a better job that what I am seeing.

Part of San Francisco's disaster plan is having designated neighborhood safe areas where folks go after a major quake. We have civilian disaster leaders for every neighborhood. We know in advance where the people and supplies are supposed to go. We also have neighborhood safe groups that check up on each other after an event and can bring the wounded to those safe areas. We are taught what to do even if the authhorities are not present.

I am practically speechless at what I am seeing in NO.

[Kathleen04]

28. I've

sat in the exit row before. ;)

In all seriousness, I would hope that I would be able to..

[alarimer]

29. No I don't think I could

Just being honest here- I tend to panic at the least provocation. I am not calm in a crisis. I freak out at minor car accidents for example or a minor crisis at work. I am prone to anxiety attacks. I have had panic attacks in the past so please do not rely on me to be strong in a crisis. In my panic I might also hurt others (but not intentionally- simply through making the wrong decisions).

[In_The_Wind]

30. Yes. I've always been level headed in a crisis situation.

I feel more prepared now than I ever have.

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. During the "Great Blackout"-which I will never complain about again-

A few of us neighbors with generators pooled our generators and extension cords and hooked up a good amount of fridges. Small stuff, in hind sight, but it made me realize what wonderful people live on this street who I am sure would come through for each other in even worse times. I am sure, in this time of unbelievable destruction, death and devastation, that some lifelong friendships have been made.

[gizmo1979]

32. I'll bet I could

have went to any truckstop in the U.S and got enough truckers and donations to get water down to those people in New Orleans faster than the federal government.Of course that isn't saying much.

[xmas74]

33. I've done tornadoes and floods.

I've volunteered for the cleanup, sandbagged, first aid, etc. Used to dispatch. I was the person who sounded the sirens for tornado warnings. I had to sound the sirens while my daughter was w/ her babysitter. I wanted to be w/ my daughter when I knew that one had touched down just a mile out of town and that it was coming our way but I couldn't. I had to be at work. I didn't panic. I waited until I got home after the shift-then I hugged her.
Could I stay calm? As long as someone needed me to be calm. I could do it.