The general rule is that when a disaster happens, NO ONE is coming to help you. FEMA generally lets things play out then comes by in a few days to help rescue and relocate. The reality of NO/Katrina will happen again, the exact same way.

So, ordinary people in your own neighborhood trained to help in an emergency is a very good idea and probably the best you're going to get should something terrible happen.

puddleonfire: I'll echo the FARK YOU FEMA for turning away Wal-Mart trucks at New Orleans just because they weren't on the VIP List Clipboard!!

FARKING DISGUSTING.

This can never be repeated too often. You have private citizens and corporations (whom I normally criticize heartily) willing to help and they get turned away. WTF?

lefdeee: But Walmart is the worst thing in the world. Someone told me that once. I think they were on TV.

Hey, The Autobahn and Volkswagen were great for the people of germany, I guess that means we can give hitler a pass on the genociding and world warring thing. Not really, but to claim 1 ideal excuses poor business practices, poor employee relations, and monopplism that forced many small business out of business is equally retarded.

AnubisMan: And by efficent I actually mean efficient.

This correction fails to make your argument any better. You are a blind, easily manipulated, partisan hack. Get off of Mom's teat and live a little. Mingle with people different from you, you may learn something.

Bender The Offender: lefdeee: But Walmart is the worst thing in the world. Someone told me that once. I think they were on TV.

Hey, The Autobahn and Volkswagen were great for the people of germany, I guess that means we can give hitler a pass on the genociding and world warring thing. Not really, but to claim 1 ideal excuses poor business practices, poor employee relations, and monopplism that forced many small business out of business is equally retarded.

Nice godwin. Fail.

vonster: Walmart has been a great help over the last several years in providing disaster relief assistance. I heard they had truckloads of bottled water (among other things)into NOLA before FEMA could scratch their asses.

They tried to get in and FEMA told them to turn around.

On Monday, September 5, 2005, Army and Marine troops arrived in New Orleans to take over the disaster response. "Wal-Mart offered to help the Department of Defense with logistics, Jackson says, but the offer was not accepted. It was still hard to know who was in control; FEMA head Michael Brown still hadn't set up the joint field office intended to coordinate the federal, state and local response. 'Is it the city? Is it the state? Is it the DOD?" asks Jackson. 'We found ourselves trying to make inroads into a lot of different organizations...The joint field office was finally established 12 days after Katrina hit." (21)

I wouldn't put my trust into a group that the government may sweep aside during an event. I'm not counting on the government either to be honest. Supplies, basic planning and getting educated on what to do is your best bet. Groups like the Red Cross have classes and advice about what to have on hand.

FLMountainMan: AnubisMan: And by efficent I actually mean efficient.

This correction fails to make your argument any better. You are a blind, easily manipulated, partisan hack. Get off of Mom's teat and live a little. Mingle with people different from you, you may learn something.

How does my hate of Wal Mart make me a partisan hack? So you say if I go to Wal Mart I may encounter people different than me, what makes you so sure they will be different?

eddyatwork: You have private citizens and corporations (whom I normally criticize heartily) willing to help and they get turned away. WTF?

The thing is with that, is that if you allow people to go into the "hot zone", even to provide relief, they themselves can become victims. Where would they start with the relief? What plan of action do they have? Who would they "report" to? Where would they stay, eat and bathe? Who would be responsible if something happened to them, or they get injured and needed medical care? Looking at NO specifically, there were people just roaming the streets with guns and firing upon the military and other first responders. What would happen if Joe Helpsalot got gunned down? He would become another unnecessary victim in a scenario that was already pretty bad.

Look, I understand that people want to help, and welcome them, which is why Maryland is proposing this group. Good for them, I say. Give the people who want to help the training and involve them in the process.

The main goal of a first responder is protect life, environment and property, but also #1 right along with that is to not become a victim yourself.

Bender The Offender: lefdeee: But Walmart is the worst thing in the world. Someone told me that once. I think they were on TV.

Hey, The Autobahn and Volkswagen were great for the people of germany, I guess that means we can give hitler a pass on the genociding and world warring thing. Not really, but to claim 1 ideal excuses poor business practices, poor employee relations, and monopplism that forced many small business out of business is equally retarded.

Are we talking about Starbucks?

penthesilea: I wouldn't put my trust into a group that the government may sweep aside during an event. I'm not counting on the government either to be honest. Supplies, basic planning and getting educated on what to do is your best bet. Groups like the Red Cross have classes and advice about what to have on hand.

Dammit, you're married.

bob_justice: 4. Budweiser is a major business partner. They ship water to disaster victims directly.

If I were a disaster victim, I might prefer beer to water.

/actually, I prefer beer to water anyway

farking Carcetti. If only Clay Davis had run.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

lefdeee: Bender The Offender: lefdeee: But Walmart is the worst thing in the world. Someone told me that once. I think they were on TV.

Hey, The Autobahn and Volkswagen were great for the people of germany, I guess that means we can give hitler a pass on the genociding and world warring thing. Not really, but to claim 1 ideal excuses poor business practices, poor employee relations, and monopplism that forced many small business out of business is equally retarded.

Nice godwin. Fail.

Hey, you started the whole retarded line of thought. You imply the media has demonized Wal-mart and then offer one instance of socially resposible behavior as proof of the media's inaccuracy. If you're going to be that intellectualy dishonest, I'm going to break out the godwin.

RoxtarRyan: The thing is with that, is that if you allow people to go into the "hot zone", even to provide relief, they themselves can become victims.

The thing is they took it on themselves to do this. Frankly I'd tell FEMA to fark off and rather rely on some random joe-schmoe than deal with them. At least Joe-Schmoe might help me rather than tell me to go in the SuperDome with the rest of the savages. I'll stick to my own place thanks.

Bender The Offender: lefdeee: Bender The Offender: lefdeee: But Walmart is the worst thing in the world. Someone told me that once. I think they were on TV.

Hey, The Autobahn and Volkswagen were great for the people of germany, I guess that means we can give hitler a pass on the genociding and world warring thing. Not really, but to claim 1 ideal excuses poor business practices, poor employee relations, and monopplism that forced many small business out of business is equally retarded.

Nice godwin. Fail.

Hey, you started the whole retarded line of thought. You imply the media has demonized Wal-mart and then offer one instance of socially resposible behavior as proof of the media's inaccuracy. If you're going to be that intellectualy dishonest, I'm going to break out the godwin.

Methinks you need to get your snark-o-meter fixed, because his Boobies was just dripping with it.

eddyatwork: with the rest of the savages.

...Wow.

eddyatwork:

The thing is they took it on themselves to do this. Frankly I'd tell FEMA to fark off and rather rely on some random joe-schmoe than deal with them. At least Joe-Schmoe might help me rather than tell me to go in the SuperDome with the rest of the savages. I'll stick to my own place thanks.

Uh oh, somebody isn't a people person

Wal-Mart would be more than happy to turn over their bottled water, food, diapers, and in-store supply of other emergency provisions in exchange to make sure the rest of the store wasn't looted or "appropriated". I don't want Wal-Mart to decide who gets assistance and who doesn't.

Their warehouse people might be ok with logistics, but I don't want any "help" from their in-store staff. They make FEMA look like Speedy Gonzales.

How many times do I need to go to Wal-Mart to know they suck? I can find a lot of evidence of that from the parking lot -- carts everywhere, and a fire lane full of cars driven by "entitled" customers who think their "running in for a few things" is more important that the ability of a fire truck to park in front of the building.

stinky_pete: Their warehouse people might be ok with logistics, but I don't want any "help" from their in-store staff.

I'm pretty sure Walmart would be used mainly for resources. Training every single one of their employees as a first responder and to get them all HAZMAT Ops trained (hell, even HAZMAT Awareness trained) would never happen.

Translation = These guys are getting bookoo tax write-off's

Molavian: penthesilea: I wouldn't put my trust into a group that the government may sweep aside during an event. I'm not counting on the government either to be honest. Supplies, basic planning and getting educated on what to do is your best bet. Groups like the Red Cross have classes and advice about what to have on hand.

Dammit, you're married.

You just want space in my bunker.

Mongo cut wood:
Hmmmmm where I live they are called the Fire Department.

They will do a similar job. Just without all the extensive training, equipment, support and pay.

Of course it going to take a couple of years ago to rebuild FEMA. Everytime a Bush gets into office, it is the first organisation torn apart.

DROxINxTHExWIND: Architecture Of Aggression: lefdeee:
You're better than the rest of us.

yeah, because that's what I was saying. thanks for letting us know that you love wal mart though.

it's not like I shop at some stores that only rich celebrities know about in Grenyarnia. I apologize that I think wal mart is about as enticing as a trip through a pig farm. I hope for a speedy recovery of your delicate sensibilities.

Wal-Mart declares martial law, which makes it Wal-Martial Law.

Samwise Gamgee: Eh, wal-mart knows they'll get looted anyway, might as well make it look like charity.

Seriously, though, emergency management should be emphasized on the state level, and a part of the national guard. Take the federal out of FEMA - that's why it's slow and unwieldy.

I thought we were supposed to like it when the federal government puts its fingers into everything?

Oznog: Wal-Mart declares martial law, which makes it Wal-Martial Law.

stinky_pete: How many times do I need to go to Wal-Mart to know they suck? I can find a lot of evidence of that from the parking lot -- carts everywhere, and a fire lane full of cars driven by "entitled" customers who think their "running in for a few things" is more important that the ability of a fire truck to park in front of the building.

While you're upset about parking during the Zombie Apocalypse, I'll be eating Doritos and Food-In-A-Can to keep my butt alive.

Seriously.. if my apartment complex was destroyed in a disaster and I could not drive to my parent's place, I would accept any help that didn't ask for a BJ for payment.