[sokoloff]

> And don't the victims deserve organized, professional response?

Would you prefer an organized, professional response in two days, or an impromptu Walter-Mitty-wants-to-help response in an hour? I don't think it's ever feasible to rely only on professionals for response to wide-scale events like this. You need neighbors helping neighbors.

Think about whatever naturally sourced neighborhood disruption strikes your area. For us in New England, it's snow storms and ice storms. In a snow storm, I go shovel/snow blow out some neighbors sidewalks and/or cars. In an ice storm, I'll help clear the sidewalks near my house of fallen branches because I have the time and equipment to do so. I'm not about to sign up and attend year-round training or drills on disaster response, as I have other things to do. Instead, I'm going to fire up my chainsaw or snowblower as/when/if I see it's needed to help someone who can't reasonably help themself and when I'm not reasonably needed at work anyway due to the scale of the event.

[webnrrd2k]

I think the question is: why should it take two days to get a couple of dispatchers out to a disaster area? As a nation, we put a lot of money into FEMA, etc..., and it's not hard to predict that there will be a need to coordinate volunteers. Why not have a shipping container or two and some people who are in the area before the storm hits? They could a generator, fuel, radios, tents, etc... and put together a small incident response center on the ground before hand. It wouldn't have to be much, just the basics to assess and direct resources available on the ground. I imagine a couple of guys with radios, maps can get a huge amount done towards coordinating volunteers, helping to make things more efficient, and helping people to be safe.

I'm on a volunteer fire department, and have had the same concerns, although on a more local level.