Are states prepared to deal with major catastrophes? This issue is tackled by James Carafano in his Washington Examiner Column. He writes:
Few states have even begun to address their requirements for catastrophic planning. Most lack the expertise and resources to undertake large-scale disaster planning. Most focus available resources on “everyday” disaster response: Vermont must plan for snowstorms, Hawaii for volcanic eruptions and California for earthquakes. They’re far less motivated to think about the wider menu of disasters, from biological plagues to dirty bombs.
Are things any better at the federal level? Carafano continues:
Even the federal effort has ground to a halt. The cats don’t like being herded. To make the job easier, the Department of Homeland Security tried grouping the 15 scenarios into a group of eight “scenario sets,” but other federal agencies still complained there were too many planning requirements.
In response to the disastrous state of disaster planning, the Obama White House has put the whole effort on hold while it “rethinks” the presidential directives requiring the agencies to do anything. That’s not good news.
If your emergency preparedness plan is to wait for your local and federal government to come and rescue you, this report on the state of things should change your thinking. Preparedness is your individual and family responsibility, and you should buy the kits you need and take the right steps to ensure you and your family’s safety.
