now we have Rita -- a FEMA repeat??
still too early to be sure, but shaping up that Rita will be a hurricane and eventually strike some part of the Gulf coast, maybe Texas, in about a week. Are we going to let the FEMA bureaucrats screw up another one (i'm referring to the leadership, not the hard workers in the trenches)? Can the TDR membership get organized to help if needed? Seems a lot of TDR members are willing to help.
Here's how I see it:
* Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. , are excellent T+ a few days to a week, and on out; they're pros at setting up and providing all kinds of assistance; but they're too large and cumbersome to respond to immediate needs -- T+24 - 72 hours
* FEMA will eventually kick in, but they won't reach any substantial organizational level for probably T+ a month or more
* small backwoods areas missed entirely -- saw a report last night that Bogalusa (sp?), LA still hasn't seen a single FEMA or other aid organization, 3 weeks after the disaster, and they were hit hard with wind/tree damage
This tells me there is room for TDR to help. I think the key is getting authorized to get in to affected areas, have some credentials (if the trucks/convoy aren't enough) to get past cops in those 1st 24 - 48 hours.
I see the mission as get essential supplies in, maybe help (cut trees, etc. ) for less than a day, then get out.
Seems to me independent "platoon sized" convoys would work better than one huge convoy. This way, could pick a CB channel for the group that hopefully wasn't overrun with traffic. I love the idea (presented earlier in this thread) of adopting an off-the-beaten-path town that could really use the help.
Maybe best to organize by region we're coming from, so could form up small convoy near beginning of trip.
If any ideas on getting organized, please share.
If Rita meterializes, and depending on where it strikes, I'm willing to join (hopefully group from VA, WV, NC, TN area).
-- Steve