Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Elphaba · 10-01-2005, 08:48 PM

Pan, I have spent some time considering you question and the best that I can do is relate some personal experiences. First of all, Washington's environmental/weather threats are virtually unpredictable (earthquakes or severe storms) which fits your poll criteria. My second issue is that given that I am an older woman (I just can't bring myself to say "senior citizen"), my imaginary role in emergency response would likely be administrative. I'm not exactly the first person someone would call up to take physical action, but I am certain that I would be doing my job for whatever support role I could play, AFTER I secured my property and looked after my neighbors.

I know this because, in my real life we have had storm and earthquake damage:

- When we had extraordinary lake flooding a few years back (some yahoo decided to dam the outgoing creek), I checked on my absent neighbors properties. One was severely flooded and I contacted him at his home number in Seattle. (We share emergency numbers with each other here).

- After an extreme snow/ice and quick melt storm, another absent neighbor had a fallen tree take out his electricity. I contacted the utility for repair and then contacted my neighbor to tell him he had trees on his roof, with no apparent structural damage.

- After the Nisqually earthquake, all of the full time residents on my side of the lake checked in on each other to make sure everyone was safe. (Again, we keep a lookout for each other). Fortunately, the greatest concern was for the run away dogs that were frightened and we eventually found them and brought them home.

- This summer, with the assistance of the County Sheriff's Office, we formed a neighborhood "block" watch. (We have no blocks; just a couple miles of country road running down both sides of the lake). Again, we are looking after each other.

Pan, my rural circumstances may be unusual to your OP, but I do think that our effort to look after each other can be extended to a much larger community. In doing so, we might relieve the much needed response teams who are required in more drastically effected areas. I sincerely believe that we need to develop emergency response plans that begin at the neighborhood level. Why would FEMA or anyone else care about me or my neighbors, if Seattle has been turned into rubble?

10-01-2005, 08:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	Pan, I have spent some time considering you question and the best that I can do is relate some personal experiences. First of all, Washington's environmental/weather threats are virtually unpredictable (earthquakes or severe storms) which fits your poll criteria. My second issue is that given that I am an older woman (I just can't bring myself to say "senior citizen"), my imaginary role in emergency response would likely be administrative. I'm not exactly the first person someone would call up to take physical action, but I am certain that I would be doing my job for whatever support role I could play, AFTER I secured my property and looked after my neighbors. I know this because, in my real life we have had storm and earthquake damage: - When we had extraordinary lake flooding a few years back (some yahoo decided to dam the outgoing creek), I checked on my absent neighbors properties. One was severely flooded and I contacted him at his home number in Seattle. (We share emergency numbers with each other here). - After an extreme snow/ice and quick melt storm, another absent neighbor had a fallen tree take out his electricity. I contacted the utility for repair and then contacted my neighbor to tell him he had trees on his roof, with no apparent structural damage. - After the Nisqually earthquake, all of the full time residents on my side of the lake checked in on each other to make sure everyone was safe. (Again, we keep a lookout for each other). Fortunately, the greatest concern was for the run away dogs that were frightened and we eventually found them and brought them home. - This summer, with the assistance of the County Sheriff's Office, we formed a neighborhood "block" watch. (We have no blocks; just a couple miles of country road running down both sides of the lake). Again, we are looking after each other. Pan, my rural circumstances may be unusual to your OP, but I do think that our effort to look after each other can be extended to a much larger community. In doing so, we might relieve the much needed response teams who are required in more drastically effected areas. I sincerely believe that we need to develop emergency response plans that begin at the neighborhood level. Why would FEMA or anyone else care about me or my neighbors, if Seattle has been turned into rubble?