During the aftermath of a natural disaster or incident, we are told there is always help. Even Mr. Rogers taught us as kids to “look for the helpers” when things seemed scary. But what if you didn’t see the helpers? What if aid never came? More and more people are finding this reality to be their own, and now the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, even admits their services are falling short of providing aid to people. What should we do when the helpers don’t come?
In this article shared by NPR News, FEMA admits with their own research that people of low-income or social-economic-status (1 in 7 Americans) are 23% less likely to receive federal rent aid from them. Additionally, the aid that poor homeowners received, if they received any, was disproportionately less than that of the aid wealthy homeowners would get. FEMA could not explain these differences, and at first was reluctant to share the research with news agencies. The article shares the first-hand account of a couple who experienced home damage from a hurricane last August, and received very little help from FEMA which caused displacement, and further dangers through the following several months.
This should make everyone stop and think; “FEMA is often the face of the face of disaster response, but what if they don’t help me?” “What can I do to ensure that I have help when I need it?” The answer is fairly straightforward: Plan for my needs.
Through the past 20 years, there have seemingly been no shortage of major incidents. From 9/11, to major hurricanes that affected everywhere from New Orleans to New Jersey, a global pandemic, extreme weather incidents in areas where they don’t typically occur, and major cyber attacks that slow or stop infrastructure, it is important to recognize that federal response might be sluggish, or even by their own admittance, non-existent for you.
If you read these articles and ask yourself, “What would I do?” the answer can start with making your own incident plan for you and your loved ones. Do you live in a flood plain? Do you have an emergency kit with 3 days of food, water, and medication for you and your loved ones? Do you have a safe space designated in your home for sheltering-in-place? Do you have a clear evacuation plan that you and your family know and practice?
If these questions raise more concerns than comfort for you, please take a moment to reach out to us here at EMP2C. We can provide lifesaving CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed trainings for you and your friends and family. We can come to you and provide physical assessments of your home or workplace and ensure that your plans meet your needs. We can even help you write and practice your emergency response plans to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe in the event of an emergency.
Planning and preparedness are the best ways to prevent damage and/or limit the felt detrimental effects in the event of a major incident. If you can make an effective plan, you may be able to prevent dependency on services that are provided by outside agencies like your local emergency responders or federal aid that may be overwhelmed or have an implicit bias against helping you or your loved ones. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and make your emergency planning easier by starting today!
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