I don't disagree with anything you said. HOWEVER, I think we also need to address the lack of preparedness and response by the Public too. Since the dawn of Civil Defense, emergency managers have beat the individual preparedness drum to the public. Regardless of what the City of Buffalo, Erie County and the State of New York did or didn't do, there was enough information out there in the media and social media that a bad storm was coming. Local media was telling people to stay home, etc. I'm trying to blame the public, but when we discuss emergency management it has to be done with the 4 legged stool concept, Government, Private Sector, NGO Sector, and the Public. Take one leg away and the stool becomes wobbly. Take two legs away and the stool collapses. The public are often taken out of the conversation but they do play a vital role in emergency management.
I was replying to your typo fix. I do my best editing after I post as well (HAHA). Yes the public does have a part to play, and I too have spent many hours trying to get people ready. I am a huge supporter of CERT programs, even if they do not volunteer. The issues that Buffalo is facing came way before the snow. The infrastructure is falling apart, and they have not invested in fixing the problem. Buffalo is not the only city facing this. The City of L.A. has many of the same issues, they get away with not fixing them because in SoCal, we don't freeze. You are right that everyone needs to play their part. They need to hire a professional emergency manager to lead some of the mitigation efforts.
That should read "I'm NOT trying to blame the public . . ."
Todd,
I don't disagree with anything you said. HOWEVER, I think we also need to address the lack of preparedness and response by the Public too. Since the dawn of Civil Defense, emergency managers have beat the individual preparedness drum to the public. Regardless of what the City of Buffalo, Erie County and the State of New York did or didn't do, there was enough information out there in the media and social media that a bad storm was coming. Local media was telling people to stay home, etc. I'm trying to blame the public, but when we discuss emergency management it has to be done with the 4 legged stool concept, Government, Private Sector, NGO Sector, and the Public. Take one leg away and the stool becomes wobbly. Take two legs away and the stool collapses. The public are often taken out of the conversation but they do play a vital role in emergency management.
I was replying to your typo fix. I do my best editing after I post as well (HAHA). Yes the public does have a part to play, and I too have spent many hours trying to get people ready. I am a huge supporter of CERT programs, even if they do not volunteer. The issues that Buffalo is facing came way before the snow. The infrastructure is falling apart, and they have not invested in fixing the problem. Buffalo is not the only city facing this. The City of L.A. has many of the same issues, they get away with not fixing them because in SoCal, we don't freeze. You are right that everyone needs to play their part. They need to hire a professional emergency manager to lead some of the mitigation efforts.