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Mike Hiner's avatar

THERE ARE SOLUTIONS to this disaster and the future

Disaster relief is not a one-man show and it needs families and communities banding together to formalize emergency response in their local neighborhoods. This is a must until the professional first responders can be given a greenlight to deploy and arrive. Unless disaster plans are announced in advance and resources moved forward nothing happens in those dark and lonely times while people are trapped and clinging to life and survival.

Just as groups and communities mobilize to deal with border and legal issues, we need the same level of organizing capability for disaster relief programs along the border.

As with all large cities like Houston, and tiny towns and villages across the State, immediate disaster relief must start in churches and communities, (community groups), and ultimately up to the offices of mayors, and police, and sheriff departments. State and Federal relief is always a day late and a dollar short. In spite of the efforts of FEMA, American Red Cross, and other national organizations, they are always delayed and bludgeoned by State and Federal paperwork that slows the process. There are no quick hit rescue teams that can save a city, community, or village (except for the National Guard, and agencies that can handle large scale logistics). But it requires pre-planning. That planning starts in the city and county emergency operations centers.

"https://www.hidalgocounty.us/85/Emergency-Management"

If you want answers you start at this link to ask the questions of how was the emergency response structured, and whether they OEM had enough resources. You need a journalistic approach or a community representative approach so that you can open doors and ask questions. Otherwise it will be face-time and not much else.

After you have talked to the Sheriff's offices and the OEM, and you come up short on understanding and answers. The next step is Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) that are formed for every community and coordinated with training from city and county fire departments, and police agencies. The role of CERT teams are to establish the first line of protection for people until First Responders can arrive and take over.

Please allow me to suggest opening a discussion on where we could begin to work on saving lives and communities. For all of the advocacy groups on the border--you are perfectly organized to provide the extensions and organizing efforts to build and raise CERT teams. It requires dedication, and a willingness to no longer put your heads down and let someone else do the job.

"We" have to work together and it has to cross political lines and biases.

When you are chest deep in flood waters you don't care which hand reaches out to save you. You hope for your prayer to be answered.

When you are bed ridden and the flood waters are up to you mattress you pray, you cry, and you scream for help for anyone to find you.

These are the stories I can tell.

I have spent over 20 years working on hurricane disaster relief, both as a member of Civil Air Patrol, and the Texas State Guard. Over those many years and to this date I have witnessed many successes and failures in emergency response. My thoughts and beliefs on what should be done at the community level are further reinforced by the reporting in this article. I can help, but this is not a one-man show. I currently working on First Responder drone and UAS training programs through the Bailey Military Institute for STEM education. The institute was founded by MG John Bailey after he retired from the US Army, to bring hope through aviation programs, and to help underserved communities in Houston.

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Erin Nelsen Parekh's avatar

Has anyone seen funds for assisting people in the flooded areas yet, or are there organizations helping out?

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