Bits and Pieces

A case in point about helping responders: Yesterday I was trying to do chores amongst e-mails, blogging and all of the assorted bits and pieces of what we do. I was chagrined to say the least, to find out that I absent-mindedly used bleach instead of detergent in my load of dark clothes. Of course, some of my favorite things were in there. Oh well, I'd rather goof on my laundry than actions related to the response. Tonight my daughter-in-law cooked a fabulous dinner while I played a short game of monopoly with my granddaughter. We need to take those breaks, most of us are a very driven bunch when it comes to disaster response.

As far as Haiti, situation reports have been from one extreme to the other. Reports of a communication team trying to set up a communication system, being attacked and having to retreat into Santo Domingo. While on the other end, I got a message of a hospital that wasn't in the damage area which was able to take patients, but no one knew because of the lack of communications. This was great news, and in this area things were calm and the community trying to help as much as they could. The beauty of the networking, social and technical, is they were hooked up with people on the ground in Haiti who need to know this. Fuel is still very difficult to obtain and anything that runs off of a generator, from lights to communications is affected. This alone slows the process. It is diligently being worked on by a number of people from all over the world. People wonder why the heavy equipment isn't getting there, if they could only have a fly on the wall perspective they would understand the numerous logistical issues involved, the ports heavily damaged, roads damaged or impassable, or no roads at all, and poor communications. However, it is getting somewhat better as we speak, thousands of people communicating through various networks to come up with solutions.
Meanwhile medical personnel are trying to manage the best they can as supplies trickle in. Last night on 60 Minutes they showed doctors having to use a hack saw for amputations and vodka for sterilization as that is what they have at hand.
Hopefully tomorrow I can post a little of what responders are encountering if I can get some reports from the field from one of our teams that just arrived in Port Au Prince today.

One of the security issues they are dealing with is the escape of several hundred felons from their collapsed prison. Port Au Prince has had a long history of gang violence. Haiti is one of the main portals for cocaine to the U.S. Fighting for turf is going to be an issue especially with the escaped criminals many who were in for drug or violence charges. Couple this with people not being able to get food, water, and medical care and it all contributes to the risk of violence. When I responded to the Nias earthquake, a helicopter was shot at trying to deliver food. Who is responsible for establishing security? Especially with a collapsed government. While the UN may send in some peacekeeping forces it is not enough. The U.S. while trying to help may be perceived as trying to take over. So many political, administrative, logistical issues that slow these responses, yet, I still see the progress of Civilian/Military and International cooperation better than it has been in previous responses. I think the world finally realizes we are all on this planet together and we better help each other, as what happens in a disaster affects everyone. Take care all.