"State [Alabama] Seeks to Supplant Red Cross"

[jody]

State Seeks to Supplant Red Cross

QUOTE
Frustrated with the performance of the American Red Cross, Alabama's governor has asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff for the federal aid necessary to let the state assume primary responsibility for operating its own emergency shelters in disasters.

The move comes after months of criticism of the Red Cross, inspired by what even the organization's own leaders acknowledge was its inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina last year.

"There are certain systemic problems with bureaucracies like the Red Cross that limit their ability to be as effective as we are going to have to be in future occurrences," Gov. Bob Riley said Monday in a telephone interview.

The Red Cross has a special standing among the nation's disaster-relief charities. It is formally charged in the government's National Response Plan as a primary entity responsible for coordinating emergency shelters and other aspects of victim care during disasters.
UNQUOTE

[Lance_Boyle]

1. Red Cross America is corrupted.

I blame bobdoleswife, although to be sure there was corruption in the organization even before she ran it into the ground.

[FormerRepublican]

2. Red Cross is Republican infested. Perhaps that's enough explanation?

[KurtNYC]

3. The Red Cross here is so bad that they spun off blood donations

to a separate entity. If they can't handle scheduled blood donations, what are the chances they could handle some un-scheduled disaster?

[Coastie for Truth]

6. In NYC - you ought to do what we do in real Earthquake Country

-We survived and recovered better then New Orleans.

- Your cell phones will be dead

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Alabama already has this authority

Under the Second Amendment (Yes, this one - Amendment II - A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.) the States were granted the right to have militias separate and distinct from the National Guard.

Alabama has such a State Defdense Force, the Alabama State Defense Force. The force is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of Alabama and Executive Order. The Alabama State Defense Force (ASDF) is the state’s authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the Alabama National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The SDF is comprised of retired active and reserve military personnel and selected professional persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state.

During FY 97, the role of the State Defense Force was significantly expanded to include active assistance to state and local Emergency Management offices during emergencies. The Commanding General of the State Defense Force is appointed by and answers directly to The Adjutant General.

In this regard, see --

U.S. law allows states to raise and maintain state defense forces (SDF). As the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina demonstrated, these groups can be an important supplement to the National Guard, particularly during catastrophic disasters. When trained, disciplined, and well organized, local responders are essential for providing immediate aid and security. Congress and the Bush Administration should encourage states to better organize, train, and equip these volunteer units.

Authorized Under Law. The U.S. Constitution and United States Code Title 32, Section 309, authorize state defense forces. An SDF is under the command of the governor and reports to the state's Adjutant General. The state's constitution and laws prescribe the SDF's duties and responsibilities. These forces are state troops and are not funded by the federal government. In order to use armories, train on military installations, and receive in-kind support, states have to comply with federal standards for the National Guard in matters of accession, training, uniforms, and discipline. SDF personnel receive no pay for training but may be paid for active duty under state control.

A Historic Force. Several states formed SDF units during World War I to replace their National Guard, which had been called into federal active duty. About 100,000 armed SDF personnel guarded key infrastructure and secured the coastlines and land frontiers. During World War II, about 200,000 state guardsmen, with War Department support, replaced the mobilized National Guard. The SDF program was revived in 1980 during the Cold War under the premise that SDF personnel would have to replace the National Guard on the home front if troops were mobilized to fight in Europe. Currently, 23 states maintain state defense forces of some kind, for a nationwide total of about 14,000 personnel.

In the Wake of Disaster. So far, several thousand SDF personnel from at least eight states have participated in the response to Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana activated all of its SDF. About 150 of these personnel were used in the response operation in support of the Louisiana National Guard. Mississippi also activated all of its State Guard personnel, principally in support of the Army National Guard, to provide security and operate shelters. Under the direction of the Adjutant General, Alabama SDF personnel assisted in providing security and supported the operations of the Alabama National Guard.

Although most SDF personnel were used in their own states, some were also deployed to the Gulf Coast. The Texas State Guard activated over 1,000 members on paid active duty. Medical and military police units received evacuees at Kelly Air Force Base and supported operations at the Houston Astrodome and at shelters in four other locations within Texas. Georgia SDF personnel were activated in unpaid status to process evacuees through Dobbins Air Reserve Base and to provide medical and administrative support and security for shelters. Virginia used about 100 unpaid volunteers as part of the Katrina response operation. This allowed additional members of the Virginia National Guard to deploy to the Gulf Coast. Members of the Virginia defense force assisted in the deployment of National Guard units and provided security for armories. The Maryland defense force sent an 81-person medical team to Louisiana. The Tennessee State Guard was alerted on September 1 and activated 150 volunteers to secure and support shelter operations at several locations.

Force for the Future. Katrina demonstrated the difference between a "normal" disaster and a catastrophe. The normal response to disaster calls for a cascading response. Local community resources have the primary responsibility to respond. When their resources are overwhelmed, they seek aid from the state. In turn, when state assets are exhausted, the federal government provides assistance. This process usually takes days. By contrast, in a catastrophic disaster, state and local responders are stressed from the start. In these situations, it is vital to draw on volunteer groups to help close the support gap until the resources of the nation can be mobilized.

Although governors have great responsibility for preparedness and response in catastrophic emergencies, they have few resources other than their National Guard available to them. SDF provide a low-cost way for states to increase the resources available. However, they have received little attention. Some state Adjutants General want strong and effective SDF under their command as part of their state military departments. Others resist having SDF, in some cases because of the additional work necessary to administer them. Historically, the Pentagon has offered little support or advice to the states. Additionally, while the Department of Homeland Security promotes volunteer participation in national preparedness and response programs, it has paid scant attention to SDF.

Neglecting SDF is a mistake. With National Guard forces being called to active duty more frequently than at any time since the Korean War, the need for SDF to provide some measure of backup support to the states should be readily apparent.

Moving Forward. SDF should be a core part of the volunteer assets available to states in time of crisis. Congress can help by establishing a legislative framework to require appropriate cooperation between the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security and the state governments on SDF matters. One bill, H.R. 3401 (the State Defense Force Improvement Act), introduced by Representatives Joe Wilson (R-GA) and Lincoln Davis (D-TN), provides that Congress recognize state defense forces as "an integral military component of the Nation's homeland security effort" under state control and for use at the state level in accordance with state laws. It would also authorize the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to provide limited support for SDF at no direct cost to the federal government.

Conclusion. In considering how best to respond to disasters like Katrina, not all of the answers can be found in Washington. Building a stronger community response through volunteer groups such as state defense forces is an essential part of preparedness.

(Permission granted by Heritage Foundation to reprint and distribute)

<>

Alabama activated its State Defense Force for Katrina --

Sept. 14, 2005: Riley Activates State Defense Force to Assist in Katrina Relief "... According to the National Guard, the state Defense Force is Alabama's authorized militia and fills in for the Guard when the soldiers are mobilized. ...

Sep 7, 2005 Supplies arrive, expected or not "... members of the Alabama State Defense Force, in charge of the site, redirected it to the Sam's Club warehouse on the I-65 service road. Allie Flowers, with the Alabama State Defense Force, said ..."

Sep 4, 2005 Volunteer force to help in relief "... Fourteen troops from the Athens Battalion of the Alabama State Defense Force have volunteered to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Mobile. ..."

[jody]

5. IMO you missed the point. The issue is not keeping and bearing arms, it's

because the Red Cross "is formally charged in the government's National Response Plan as a primary entity responsible for coordinating emergency shelters and other aspects of victim care during disasters."

Governor Riley, a Republican, is asking that the Red Cross be relieved of that role for Alabama.

[Coastie for Truth]

7. The militia is your primary emergency responder in disasters

by definition.

I am a veteran of the United States Coast Guard - the United States Coast Guard evolved from the Revenue Cutter Service and the North Carolina Life Boat MILITIA.

I grew up in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania all of our pre-1968 laws refer to the Volunteer Fire Services and Departments as the Fire MILITIA.

Forget the Wayne LaPierre lobbying and the Charlton Heston sound bytes MILITIA means neighbors (hopefully trained and qualified) voluntarily going in harms way to help their neighbors in peril.

I live in California - between the two most active faults in the world (not just California, but the world) -the San Andreas Fault (the one the let loose 100 years ago today and in October 1989) and the Hayward fault; I live between two urban stream liquefaction zones (the Guadeloupe River Liquefaction Zone and the Coyote Creek Liquefaction Zone), I have had the full Red Cross Training (I am a checkout shelter manager), the full Citizens Corps Training (I am a checked out neighborhood captain for a condo complex of 1000 units), and I am a Licensed Ham Radio Operator (checked out as a backup 911 controller in the event of an inevitable earthquake and as a hospital radio operator). I have the 7 day supply of emergency stuff, a backup generator, etc. Plus earthquake and flood insurance. And I have been through two Florida Hurricanes and two Louisiana Hurricanes (while in the Coast Guard), several Michigan and Ohio tornadoes, and a bunch of Great Lakes blizzards. And I have consistently been a trained emergency volunteer.

[jody]

8. Please read the article. BTW, lots of DU members are veterans but that

does not qualify them as an expert. :shrug: