Posted by Bruce in BC [172.71.147.82] on Tuesday, October 08, 2024 at 14:07:18 :
In Reply to: Re: Helene Rescue Work posted by Sam D'Agostino [172.70.127.164] on Tuesday, October 08, 2024 at 12:52:16 :
First responders are going all out down there. I am in contact with a few - long tough hours.
It takes time to get things in order and deploy - much of that planning was in advance.
Deployment has been faster than normal and funds have been transferred much faster than say 4-8 years ago.
Whining - most of the whining is from the folks who have restricted funds, weather watching, infrastructure improvements and research.
How to offer support? Make a few phone calls, contact your local SAR team and they will guide you, stay away from private groups with a political axe to grind ... they take a cut.
I spent last weekend doing a ground search for pilots lost in 1956, we found a bit more evidence, I train over 100 hrs a year to stay acredited and of course the callouts are on top of that.
Convergent volunteers can be helpful at times - say a ground search in a grid pattern for a 3 year old - but in many cases they suck up man power or get in the way. Picture a whole bunch of people dropping by to help fire fighters put out a technical blaze.
There are ways to help - but you need to be in the loop - shipping boxes of toilet paper may not be helpful
This situation should not be political, we are talking America here - both sides should be rolling up their sleeves and helping. Any one whining is trying to gain leverage over the pain of others - that is far from the values that the country says it was built on.
Do not buy into the garbage - make a few calls to SAR and then you are in a position to perhaps make a decision on how to best respond or help.