Training and Accommodations Slow Assistance after Sandy

In an admittedly narrow look at just one operation during Super Storm Sandy, professional disaster professionals wasted several days waiting for deployment. Fox’s sensational article quotes Michael Byrne, a FEMA federal coordinating officer, saying the delays were to find accommodations and training. Even then workers said they were deployed without good information to tell the residents.

This just serves to underscore the need for good communication early on during the confusing hours of a disaster – and the value of some advanced planning. Locally, during the recent search and rescue operation for India Castle, search parties hadn’t received a good description of who they were looking for – though local media had received that information from the were missing information being put out on local news.

No demerits, just lessons to be learned…