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    May 18

    The Problem with Traditional Disaster Assistance Methods

    When thousands and thousands of people are affected by a disaster, we truck and fly supplies to them where the disaster has struck. However, if the disaster is bad enough, there is no infrastructure in the area affected. No buildings, no supplies, no running water, no electricity, no passable roads, etc. Plus you also have to feed, cloth, and house the people who are doing the shipping of goods and services to an area.

    I think we have it all wrong. I suggest that we move the people to an area that has infrastructure in place, even if it is temporary infrastructure - like tents and quickly constructed buildings, so that we can serve the victims easier and more efficiently. We could save so many more people that way, and make better use of available supplies.

    It only takes one flight in and out to move people. It takes several flights in and out to supply people with goods.

    That was the final decision with Katrina. Thousands were bused out of the area due to the problems associated with bringing supplies in and providing services and safety and security.

    Just a thought...