1. The Government Emergency Managers Primary Interest is Protecting you and your loved Ones?

This is one of the most common myths about disasters. FEMA, OEM, and EAS are not about protecting human lives but about maintaining control. In Katrina they did not allow the helicopter pilots fly to rescue survivors because they had not sufficient “control of New Orleans” but did drop use helicopters to drop Navy SEALs in to protect valuable warehouses and the district branch of the Federal Reserve. All disaster research agrees the most casualties occur within the first 24 hours of a disaster, the government themselves they do not plan to “intervene” during major crises for at least 36 hours. There first interest is in controlling populations and maintaining COG (continuance of government), which they actually say publicly on their web-sites and publications. Property and government infrastructure come before you, your friends and your loved ones as priorities for all levels of government emergency managers.

Self-Organization During Disasters

“Self organization depends upon ready access to timely, accurate information through an information infrastructure that supports systematic monitoring of critical conditions, feedback to responsible participants, and revision of actions taken in the light of new information. When this is in place, no other emergency management is as successful.” — Comfort (1995) based on his research of the Great Hanshin Earthquake Japan 1995

Since at least World War II researchers have known that emergencies of all types could be best mitigated by “civilian resources” when available. Self Organization is the key to this remarkable success in civilian response to a wide range of emergencies and have proved effective in many socio-geographic environments around the world. Despite this decades old knowledge, and proven success record, governments, NGOs and corporate elites have continued to foist bureaucratic, centralized and dangerous management schemes on communities around the globe. Aftreshock Action has studied and looked at what makes self-organization such an effective tool in relief and recovery work and what elements support or hamper successful community responses to crises. This article looks at some of the most recent research and points us in ways in which we can optimize our community’s ability to self-organize during a disaster.

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February 28, 2008

The Aftershock Model

Disasters are primarily a problem of human resources. The Human Capital model suggests that ordinary people are the important asset of any country. Adam Smith first developed this idea near the end of his life and was later turned and expanded by Karl Marx. Since Marx no less than three economists and one sociologist have won Nobel Prizes using this useful theory. The Human Capital model tends to focus on the productivity or the lack of it and its effect on GNP and other economic indicators and suggest that it is important than technology, land, resources or others in predicting the wealth, diversity and complexity. FEMA, unlike the earlier Civil Defense program, has rejected the Human Capital model (as has the Department of Defense) instead putting their assets on technology, supplies and technocrats. The Aftershock Model is a return to the primacy of average citizens affected by a disaster, looking for ways to maximize people active involvement and problem-solving skills. Emergencies are events that are particularly dependent on human resources in order to avoid unnecessary disaster.

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30, Mar, 2008
Top 10 Disaster Myths
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5, Mar, 2008
Self-Organization During Disasters
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28, Feb, 2008
The Aftershock Model

September 21, 2011

Practical Anarchy During Recovery from Hurricane Irene

Days after the Hurricane Irene damaged large parts of Central Vermont this little soap company sent out an e-mail to its vendors and customers. The e-mail then was forwarded to many others. The message starts with the damage caused to the region where the soap factory was and how regular citizens helped each other.

“Hurricane Irene came through and dumped nine feet of water on us in a single day. Water levels rose slowly for several hours, and then jumped dramatically higher. Within 15 minutes overworked culverts failed, and then were tossed aside like candy wrappers. A Hundred bridges collapsed in Central VT including 15 covered bridges that had stood for nearly 150 years. Our little town of Rochester (pop 1,200 on weekends) was completely cut off from the outside world. Electricity failed, but our town’s well made water system worked continuously through the crisis. The sewer plant shut down and sewer mains were washed aside like the overwhelmed culverts that, once gone, left ten foot deep gashes across our main roads, secondary roads, and driveways. One of our friends lost their home when it crashed down into the raging brook. I had dropped off one of their daughters (who works for my wife at her Bakery) just an hour before.

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Posted by aftershockaction on September 21, 2011 in DIY, Reportback and tagged anarchy, Hurricane Irene, practical anarchy, soap, Vermont.

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September 21, 2011

NYC’s Response to Irene Not “Picture Perfect”

Just 36 hours after Irene left the streets of Manhattan, soggy Governor Cuomo was calling the response to the tropical storm, by both the city and the state, “Picture Perfect.” Most in the media agreed saying the city’s week long preparations were a new model of preparedness. The truthis that this so-called new model was not tested and from preliminary reports it did not work as advertised by the politicians. The city found itself short of 1,000 key city employees and had to ask the Governor to call in the NationalGuard– 900 were sent to the five boroughs to pick up the slack. Of these 900, only about one quarter of them arrived by Sunday morning and a full 30% did not arrive until Sunday evening, long after the storm had moved north and west of the city. An interesting article, written by an EMT first responder, was posted to the blog capitalnewyork.com

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Posted by aftershockaction on September 21, 2011 in Uncategorized.

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September 21, 2011

Scattered, Smothered, and FEMA

Another example of the professionalism of FEMA. It is true, sad and also absurdly funny – FEMA relies on the menu choices of Waffle House to determine the severity of hurricanes in the US. Yup. Crazy. Read this Wall Street Journal article if you dare.

Posted by aftershockaction on September 21, 2011 in information and tagged FEMA, Waffle House, Wall Street Journal.

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September 5, 2011

Radio and Landlines Best Ways to Communicate During Disasters

An interesting article appeared in today’s New York Times about a radio DJ in the Catskills who acted as a conduit of information for people trapped throughout this area of New York. Hurricane Irene skirted New York City, only to deluge mountainous New York and Vermont regions with tremendous amounts of rain, causing an estimated 1 billion dollars in damage–in upstate New York alone, to towns, farm land, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Irene knocked out cell phone towers and the power, leaving battery-operated radios and landlines as the only means of communication for people who watched entire towns and bridges wash away with the force of the water, or who were stuck in the upper stories of their homes, unable to leave.

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Posted by aftershockaction on September 5, 2011 in information and tagged Hurricane Irene, New York Times, Preparedness, Radio.

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August 28, 2011

Are Prisoners Expendable during Disasters? FEMA Says Yes.

This week’s disgraceful lack of planning for the more than 12,500 inmates at Riker’s Island—as other parts of the city were evacuated for Hurricane Irene—is the rule not the exception when it comes to FEMA’s thinking (or lack thereof) for the more than 2.3 million adults and 90,000 juveniles in US prisons. This indifference to over 1% of the population of the US is disgraceful and some prison-reform organizations have rightfully called it a crime against humanity. This callous indifference to the incarcerated is not new or unknown. The Orlean’s Parish Prison (OPP)—the good folks in charge of the prisons and jails in New Orleans—have been subjected to over 20 lawsuits from prison groups, lawyers, families and prisoners themselves.

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Posted by aftershockaction on August 28, 2011 in information and tagged ACLU, FEMA, Hurricane Irene, Katrina, prison.

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August 27, 2011

City Shelters are opening for Families with Pets

Despite previous policies, some shelters (e.g. Ozone Park) are taking in pets. It is unclear at present if all city shelters will but it seems most will provide arrangements for family pets (service animals have always been allow in crisis centers per Federal Law).

Be sure to bring your pets’ food, medicines, leash and collar and papers showing shots.
If you have a pet you should make sure you get to the shelter early because your pets need to go through intake with volunteers.
To make sure your shelter takes pets please call 311

For more information on pet preparations for hurricane Irene check out this link.

Posted by aftershockaction on August 27, 2011 in information, pets and tagged Hurricane Irene, pets, Preparedness.

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August 27, 2011

Some More Tips for Hurricane Irene

Stay indoors. If you must go outside, stay away from downed and dangling lines. Treat all downed lines as if they are live and dangerous.
If you use a portable generator, follow its important, life-saving instructions. Click here for more information on generators.
Listen to your battery-operated radio on for updates on our restoration progress and safety tips.
Use candles and storm lanterns carefully. Keep them out of drafts, away from flammable materials, and out of the reach of children.
If your power goes out call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).
Unplug appliances in basement or make sure they are at least 18 inches off the floor to avoid fires and electrical shocks.
Water services may be interrupted in some areas so store water ahead of time.
If you expect power failure turn your fridge and freezer to highest setting and avoid opening the door as much as possible.
Click here for step-by-step on turning off gas, water and electricity

Posted by aftershockaction on August 27, 2011 in DIY, information and tagged Hurricane Irene, Preparedness, Tips, Utilities.

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August 27, 2011

Regarding Hurricane Irene

Neighbor,

We know this can be a difficult and confusing time but you are not alone. You live in the most resilient city in the US. If you follow some simple guidelines you can aid yourself, your family and your neighborhood. You and your neighbors are the best emergency resource this city has to offer.

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Posted by aftershockaction on August 27, 2011 in DIY, information and tagged Hurricane Irene, Preparedness.

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June 14, 2008

It Will Take a lot more than Gardens to solve the Food Crisis

Here is an interesting article from Common Dreams. The writer has been at the forefront of a number of urban/suburban gardening efforts. He misses the point and seems fixated on the role grain plays in the diet but the comments after the article address this. It is still worth reading especially with the growing world-wide food crisis.

Posted by aftershockaction on June 14, 2008 in Theory and tagged Common Dreams, Food Crisis, Food Shortage, Gardening.

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May 8, 2008

UN says Avian Flu still a Threat

In a recent report (March 2007) the UN says that the Avian Flu is still a threat (specifically in countries like Nigeria, Indonesia and Bangladesh) but there has been some progress over the 10 years.

What the article doesn’t say is the number of researchers and the amount anti-flu vaccinations for humans have both dropped sharply world-wide. If the virus mutates to be transmitted from person to person (which it has not yet only bird to bird & bird to human) we would be less prepared in some areas than we were a year ago. The good news is that there is a better understanding world-wide of the threat and cases are more likely to be reported.

Posted by aftershockaction on May 8, 2008 in information and tagged Avian Flu, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, UN.

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Aftershock Action Alliance

Top 10 Disaster Myths

Self-Organization During Disasters

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Top 10 Disaster Myths

Self-Organization During Disasters

The Aftershock Model

Practical Anarchy During Recovery from Hurricane Irene

NYC’s Response to Irene Not “Picture Perfect”

Scattered, Smothered, and FEMA

Radio and Landlines Best Ways to Communicate During Disasters

Are Prisoners Expendable during Disasters? FEMA Says Yes.

City Shelters are opening for Families with Pets

Some More Tips for Hurricane Irene

Regarding Hurricane Irene

It Will Take a lot more than Gardens to solve the Food Crisis

UN says Avian Flu still a Threat

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