Government

[dsned]

I was reading that 55% of Americans think that the Government will be there for them if disaster should strike. What do you think??

[shcisamax]

Hahahahahahahahahaha. Nope.

[Happinow]

No way. You are on your own. Our government only helps other countries when there is a disaster.

[jane032657]

I am a dual citizen. G-d Bless Canada. There I go! Hopefully my kids take me in.

[graciegirl]

I don't know if I understand the question. Could the OP further explain?

I don't look to the government to "take care of me". But if for instance I would have an automobile accident, I know help would be quickly there. If there were a larger disaster, such as a hurricane, I would not expect the government to replace my house, we buy insurance, but ....I am confused.

We have tried to plan carefully and live in such a way that we wouldn't have to turn to anyone to financially give us assistance.

If there were a Sunami, I would expect for governmental agencies to be there to rescue and give help as quickly as they could to everyone. There have been many instances where local government did a fine job in times of disaster.

[Gerald]

Lol LOL.....

[njbchbum]

local govts are out and helping thousands of folks who just went thru powerful storms here in the central nj area! god bless the first responders and keep them safe from the downed poles, sparking wires, burning trees and buildings, motorists who are refusing to heed their instructions, etc! the community of freehold boro has sealed itself off from traffic incldg nj transit buses because of damage throughout the community! but the fire and police are working their butts of for everyone to try to keep them safe from the damage that was done!

so guffaw all you want about whether your govt will be there to help you! other local towns are pulling motorists out of flash flood areas, responding to a microburst, responding to fires, providing mutual aid to neighboring towns and responding to folks trapped in cars with wires on top of them! the folks in central nj are blessed that they are here for us!


morning dawns in freehold boro - the boro has been declared in a state of emergency - what a clean-up! good news is that there has been no report of injuries/deaths attributable to the storm :) just a WHOLE lot of inconvenience!

[kathy and al]

local govts are out and helping thousands of folks who just went thru powerful storms here in the central nj area! god bless the first responders and keep them safe from the downed poles, sparking wires, burning trees and buildings, motorists who are refusing to heed their instructions, etc! the community of freehold boro has sealed itself off from traffic incldg nj transit buses because of damage throughout the community! but the fire and police are working their butts of for everyone to try to keep them safe from the damage that was done!

so guffaw all you want about whether your govt will be there to help you! other local towns are pulling motorists out of flash flood areas, responding to a microburst, responding to fires, providing mutual aid to neighboring towns and responding to folks trapped in cars with wires on top of them! the folks in central nj are blessed that they are here for us!
Hope that you never personally need any of this fantastic help offered by either local or federal governments!! You may have a change of heart after a real experience.

[Taltarzac725]

The government helped quite a bit when the tornado hit the Villages and other surrounding areas on Groundhog Day of 2007. Believe the FEMA trucks were at Laurel Manor for a good while.

It seems to depend on where the disaster hits and who is running the government in that area as well as who has the White House. New Orleans and Katrina were handled very badly IMHO. The 9/11 terrorist attacks though seemed to get a swift and massive response from the government.

I see the violence in Chicago as kind of disaster and government does not seem to being all that much to stop this. Not sure what they can do in this economy though to turn youth away from the illegal drug trade.

[Figmo Bohica]

I am one of the 45% who thinks that I will have to be able to take care of me and mine for sometime before helps arrives and then I might not want the help that is offered. Think of what they did in New Orleans about taking what protection homeowners had, leaving only the criminals in possession of firearms. Not the way I want help from the current thinking of our local, state and federal officials.

[justjim]

Generally speaking, thats the job of "government" to help in disasters. For the most part, as some posts have already mentioned, the various government agencies usually do a pretty good job of saving lives and providing needed emergency help. Overall, the brave men and women in these agencies do an outstanding job.

[njbchbum]

Hope that you never personally need any of this fantastic help offered by either local or federal governments!! You may have a change of heart after a real experience.

kathy/al - been there - done that - husband has been a volunteer fireman for more than 40 yrs and served as fire chief for 3 of those years. i was a charter member of our women's fire dept auxiliary. i was also employed by the state of nj and assisted in coordinating the loan of some employees to nyc after the 911 crisis while husband was coordinating assistance to the devastated 911 famlies of monmouth county.

sorry that you are so jaded about all that we do and have done to offer assistance from the government to others.

[Finallyfree]

If there is a natural disaster, individuals should be self sufficient for at least 72 hours. It takes some time for responders to respond and remember they are leaving families that may also be in danger. The Federal government does not step in until the state requests help. The mantra is "all disasters are local"; what this means is that the local government (city, county) must first do what they can, then they request help from the state, who then, if necessary requests help from the Feds. Everyone talks about Katrina, is anyone aware that parts of Mississippi and Alabama were literally wiped out? The difference was that the governments were prepared and did not wait for someone to bail them out. How do I know this? I was working 18 hour days helping coordinate response for/with them.

Disasters such as a train wreck with chemicals is first handled by the local fire/hazmat team and it then escalates up to the Feds as necessary. I.e. the train wreck in Granitville, SC. FEMA was there as requested. FEMA does not fund disaster relief, but coordinates all work and funds for the 23 federal agencies that respond.

Do I think the government will be there in a disaster if needed? You bet your behind I do. Have a great day all!

[eweissenbach]

There are no atheists in a foxhole, and there are no anarchists in the middle of a flood.

[Madelaine Amee]

No way. You are on your own. Our government only helps other countries when there is a disaster.

You appear to have forgotten 9/11 - and you are from New York City!

[jblum315]

When I think about government aid, I just think about Katrina.

[eweissenbach]

When I think about government aid, I just think about Katrina.

The early response was pitiful, "you're doin' a heckuva job Brownie", and they had some long-range issues eg; the FEMA trailers, However without government help and assistance tens of thousands of people would have suffered a great deal more.

[Finallyfree]

Remember FEMA trailers were bought from a contractor, who met all requirements, not built by FEMA; trailers were never meant for permanent residences but when it is free what the hey! It is easy to blame the government if you don't find out the full story. Brown was an incompetent, but still had to wait til the governor asked them to help and she did not until FEMA went in without her asking. Again, back story.

[eweissenbach]

Remember FEMA trailers were bought from a contractor, who met all requirements, not built by FEMA; trailers were never meant for permanent residences but when it is free what the hey! It is easy to blame the government if you don't find out the full story. Brown was an incompetent, but still had to wait til the governor asked them to help and she did not until FEMA went in without her asking. Again, back story.

I wasn't commenting on the construction of the trailers, just that there were thousands that were paid for but went undelivered and unused.