Spontaneous Volunteers

Its interesting how much of New Orleans S&R was handled by spontaneous volunteers, even the news media. Even the most ardent govt official will admit that the absolute first response is going to be done by spontaneous volunteers, rather than trained volunteers or even professionals. Disasters are a logistical nightmare to start with, and there is no amount of money or resources that could get big guns on the scene immediately. Unfortunately, it seems that only spontaneous volunteers were involved in the non mainstram news portions of the Katrina disaster.

Dave sent his group to MS, and they found the optimum solution was to avoid government at all costs. No one could make a decision without orders, and no orders could occur as there were no communications. So.. Dave’s crew went where there were no FEMA people. I think he still has some of his key people there, not running computers or tech, but doing grunt work and cleanup. Thats pretty cool and shows a lot of chutzpah, but spontaneous volunteers are not equipped, nor should they be expected to be on site for days on end.

Alan Dove and crew did a similiar thing as well, all the way from NYC.
http://home.earthlink.net/~alanwdove/Katrina.html But the cool part is his group hooked up with the military.
The Airborne did not debate the fine regulatory points of absorbing a bunch of civilian volunteers they encountered on the highway. They just did it. They needed boats, here were some boats, what was the question? Based on additional stories I cannot completely confirm, but which all fit a pattern, I suspect the 82nd was on quite a roll in the chutzpah department at the time, even by their usual high standards.

There was also Dr Joan Messer, another spontaneous volunteer from the area, who related her issues with FEMA.
During the gas crises (that is over with now, thank God) I went 30 miles to our county seat to beg FEMA supplies for our people. The FEMA lady refused to give me anything without a phone call from our police chief or fire chief. I replied that I had a letter of support from the mayor and the phone lines were down, but we were very curtly dismissed.

Now, this is not to suggest that everyone volunteer. A disaster scene and S&R is not for the faint of heart, nor those who want to showboat. Folks showing up without formal request and without some level of training can get themselves in trouble, and as a result divert needed resources from the task at hand. There ia a fine line to be drawn.

In the past, I have always taken the pov that the govt guys would have their ducks in a row and call people in as needed. However, looking at this major hose job and as Alan said “The wheels fell off our govt” maybe one needs to be more like the Dave’s, Alan’s, and Joan’s of this world. But even better than that, they key is to be involved before hand. As one of the guys in my Emcomm group related. The best way to get through the roadblock is not with flashing lights, a badge, certifications, or even faxes, but it is because you know the officer at the road block because you just drilled with him.