New York is an example of Sir Disaster at work....
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
December 29, 2010 3:32pm CST
I just read about New York City Mayor Bloomberg being under fire because people called 9-11 for ambulance and fire, but nobody came.
To the people of New York. I'm sorry to hear about the tragedies that are happening, few people want to call 9-11, so when we do, we expect to hear sirens before to long. However, look out your window. You couldn't get your car out of the driveway, right? Some of you even left your cars in the middle of the parking lot that is usually your road to home (or work).
If your vehicle can't get through all that snow and all those cars left abandoned on the road, guess what... neither can Emergency Services.
We have to look at what makes a disaster out of an emergency in the first place. A disaster is an emergency that over taxes the local infrastructure to the point that it it cannot handle the load.
You are in a bona fide disaster. That means it's even a disaster for the Emergency Services workers and infrastructure.
That means dialing 9-11 isn't going to fix the problem this time.
My heart truly goes out to the people suffering from this weather disaster, and especially those who truly need ambulance and fire services. While most people are complaining about the inconveniences they are forced to endure, you're situations are literally life and death. It is tragic at it's very core.
New York City Fire and EMS is among the best in the world, and has proven that time and time again. But even the best can't always overcome the ravages of Mother Nature.
3 people like this
3 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
29 Dec 10
I wish you could see me giving you a standing ovation, Ted. This morning and early afternoon there has been little on the news other than people complaining about the storm and the lack of clean-up particularly in NYC. One guy actually complained he hadn't gotten any mail delivered. Give me a fricking break!! I delivered mail for 18 years and, trust me, it took an awful lot for us not to TRY to get the mail to every single address that had mail to be delivered. However, there's no possible way a mail carrier could get through that mess. If ambulances can't get through, how could a mail truck let along a carrier on foot? Also, people forget the mail has to get to each local post office somehow. I'd guess that very little has gotten through to New York these past few days.
Annie
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Dec 10
It shows how much we demand our little conveniences, and how much we whine and complain if we can't have them... NOW!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Dec 10
hi Parated yes when mother nature takes over people pretty much are
on their own. Like you said when the whole city is under siege and you cannot drive anywhere,the paramedics are also stuck. Sometimes peoplejust do not use the comnmon sense they should have.So perhaps they will have to do what we did when as a child I grew up in country where it snowed heavily and blizzarded all the time. we learned some home first aid like fixing deep wounds and splinting broken limbs and just trying to keep any one with injuries from growing worse. when I was a little girl in our farm country we had no such thing as paramedics. All they had was my dad, the country doctor and yes he did make house calls and calls way out in the country too.So that was a very long time ago and things are much better now with 911 and paramedics. But when it snows nobody goes anywhere even the Ambulances.
on their own. Like you said when the whole city is under siege and you cannot drive anywhere,the paramedics are also stuck. Sometimes peoplejust do not use the comnmon sense they should have.So perhaps they will have to do what we did when as a child I grew up in country where it snowed heavily and blizzarded all the time. we learned some home first aid like fixing deep wounds and splinting broken limbs and just trying to keep any one with injuries from growing worse. when I was a little girl in our farm country we had no such thing as paramedics. All they had was my dad, the country doctor and yes he did make house calls and calls way out in the country too.So that was a very long time ago and things are much better now with 911 and paramedics. But when it snows nobody goes anywhere even the Ambulances. 1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
30 Dec 10
Yes, it's very sad that people are suffering from this weather disaster. I feel sorry for those who really need the services but can't be reached because of the snow. People never seem to be prepared for disasters, even though there's a campaign active in the media to encourage people to be prepared with emergency supplies and a plan.
Maybe this will encourage people to be more prepared. We have been conditioned to rely on government to solve our problems from cradle to grave and we have become slaves. Hopefully, sad as it is, disasters like this will encourage independence and creative thought.
