http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1126302612048&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
"Are we ready for a New Orleans-sized disaster? Before you hurt yourself
throwing stones at the Bush administration for its mishandling of the
crisis, consider the lovely glass house we Canadians live in.
Remember the heavy snowfall Toronto got in 1999? An emergency so small it
wasn't even minor league. But remember how mayor Mel Lastman panicked, and
called in the army? Remember how few troops came, and how little they could
do?
Or remember the standoff with native protestors at Oka? As crises go, this
too was penny-ante stuff. Yet it took one-third of the army's active
soldiers to deal with this tiny, man-made disaster. What if the breakdown in
law and order had been more widespread? You'd better hope we don't live to
find out. Our army's even smaller now.
Remember the ice storm? Montreal came very close to turning into New
Orleans: no electricity, and water and sewage on the verge of giving out. If
it had gone on a few more days, whom could we have called to rescue hundreds
of thousands trapped inside the city? Maybe the White House.
The Bush administration, with help from bickering local and state
governments, badly mismanaged the crucial first days after Katrina. Led
until Friday by Michael Brown the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn't
grasp the scale of the disaster, and didn't move quickly. But once it
finally swung into action, the U.S. government had an almost unimaginably
large tool chest at its disposal.
Our governments can't call on anything like American-scale resources. To
make up for that, we've going to have to depend on Prime Minister Dithers &
Co., along with their provincial counterparts, being much smarter than their
American cousins. I feel safer already.
Consider: As of the middle of last week, 43,000 National Guard and 18,000
regular soldiers were on active duty across the four states affected by
Katrina. That's larger than the entire Canadian military. The U.S. Coast
Guard alone had 43 helicopters plucking people from rooftops and carrying
them to shelters - almost twice as many choppers as the entire Canadian
Coast Guard. As for the rest of the U.S. military, it now has 360
helicopters in the hurricane zone. That's twice as many helicopters as the
entire Canadian Armed Forces.
And just as New Orleans was a disaster foreordained, so Canada has its own
disaster waiting to happen: the great Vancouver earthquake.
In the mid-1990s, a group of insurance experts and scientists came together
to consider the worst potential Canadian catastrophes. "We decided that
there's one huge threat that tops all the others," said Paul Kovacs,
executive director of Toronto's insurance-industry sponsored Institute for
Catastrophic Loss Reduction. "And that's an earthquake in Vancouver."
Kovacs's group estimated that a large quake in the city would cause $32
billion in damage. He now thinks that's probably a low estimate. "Katrina is
forcing us to think on a bigger scale," he says. So is the aftermath of
other earthquakes. The 1995 quake that hit Kobe caused $300 billion in
damage and killed more than 6,000 people.
According to Garry Rogers, research scientist with the Geological Survey of
Canada, Kobe is "sitting on exactly the same geological setting as
Vancouver." The kind of earthquake that hit Kobe is what we can someday
expect in Vancouver.
When it will hit is obviously unknown. But from studying the soil, Rogers
says we do know that sometime in the not-so-distant past there were large
earthquakes in the Vancouver-area. The city may escape unscathed for
hundreds, even thousands, of years more, but eventually it is almost certain
to be shaken by a big one.
When we get hit by our next disaster we can only hope that our leaders turn
out to be better crisis managers than the Bush administration. With so many
fewer resources at their disposal, and so much less margin for error,
they'll have to be."
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| User: "The Other Guy" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
12 Sep 2005 10:43:02 PM |
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Two words:
Vimy Ridge !!!
:-(]
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| User: "Jane" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
13 Feb 2006 06:56:54 AM |
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"The Other Guy" <theotherguy@worldsbeyond.com> wrote in message
news:sUrVe.1625$6Z1.357151@news20.bellglobal.com...
Two words:
Vimy Ridge !!!
Ancient history and a completely different army than what we have today. We
had the 4th greatest army on earth after WWII. Trudeau (mainly) and those
who came after decimated it. We're not even a top peacekeeping force
anymore.
Jane
:-(]
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| User: "Jane" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
13 Feb 2006 06:59:01 AM |
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"Jane" <pushlinque@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Z7zVe.1717$6Z1.392543@news20.bellglobal.com...
"The Other Guy" <theotherguy@worldsbeyond.com> wrote in message
news:sUrVe.1625$6Z1.357151@news20.bellglobal.com...
Two words:
Vimy Ridge !!!
Ancient history and a completely different army than what we have today.
We had the 4th greatest army on earth after WWII. Trudeau (mainly) and
those who came after decimated it. We're not even a top peacekeeping
force anymore.
Jane
This is not to diminish the men and women who serve. It is not their fault
that they are understaffed, underequipted and underpaid...Gotta pay off ad
execs in Quebec, after all!
Jane
:-(]
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| User: "The Other Guy" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
13 Sep 2005 01:12:23 PM |
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Canadians are among the most analytical people in the world. And once a strategy has been
resolved, they are not afraid to ACT. Probably why the Rescue One team from Vancouver were
some of the first people on the scene in the Gulf Region. They just knew it was RIGHT.
To sum it up, Canadians just know how to get the job done. "Screw the Red Tape, that part can
be sorted out later."
:-(]
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| User: "dreamwalker" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
13 Sep 2005 09:34:59 PM |
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"The Other Guy" <theotherguy@worldsbeyond.com> wrote in message
news:sDEVe.1869$6Z1.437533@news20.bellglobal.com...
Canadians are among the most analytical people in the world. And once a strategy has been
resolved, they are not afraid to ACT. Probably why the Rescue One team from Vancouver were
some of the first people on the scene in the Gulf Region. They just knew it was RIGHT.
To sum it up, Canadians just know how to get the job done. "Screw the Red Tape, that part can
be sorted out later."
:-(]
Yep, just like a swiss watch, ROTFLMAO!....fucking idiot.
January 2005.
The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness commends the Canadian Government for increasing its
financial commitment to the Tsunami relief effort. It's one of the larger contributions any
government has yet made.
But, we regret that these good intentions are being offset by growing public and media perception
that, in one of the largest international disaster relief efforts ever, Canada's delayed tactical
response suggests a lack of initiative and leadership. We're very concerned that public confidence
in Canada's emergency and disaster response capabilities is dwindling.
The problem lies with the government's perceived inability to be proactive in deciding, acting, and
communicating about what it is doing, particularly with respect to the deployment of Canada's
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). Government spokesmen appear to have been trapped in a
defensive position and don't seem to have planned how to communicate effectively in a major
international disaster. Had the Government's initiative and leadership been seen to be proactive
from the beginning, this public relations problem wouldn't be distracting attention from the real
issue. This delay has made Canadians, and the rest of the world, look at the DART deployment as a
political decision rather than a humanitarian one.
DART, a major source of pride in the Canadian Forces, is suffering today from the very problem which
resulted in its creation. Ten years ago, DART was conceived as a rapid response team for major
international disasters. Why? Because Canada's relief efforts to a crisis in Rwanda arrived too late
to thwart a cholera epidemic that brought tremendous suffering. The Canadian Forces website boasts,
"The creation of the DART enhanced the federal government's ability to meet both domestic and
international requests for aid, and it demonstrates Canada's resolve to support disaster victims
anywhere in the world."
Yet, five days after the Tsunami struck eleven countries bordering the Indian Ocean and the death
toll approaches 100,000, Canada's crack multi-disciplinary team of 200 specialists is still on
Canadian soil. DART appears to be a vital Humanitarian Relief tool mired in political procedural
stumbling. And the Canadian public is showing increasing frustration at the government's perceived
lack of initiative and imagination in responding to a disaster that, in the words of UN Secretary
General Koffi Annan, calls for an unprecedented effort from the international community.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors of this catastrophic event are at immediate risk from hunger and
disease. We appeal to all Canadians to support the relief efforts by donating now to one of the
agencies listed on our web site at www.ccep.ca
Adrian Gordon, Executive Director
Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness
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| User: "The Other Guy" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
14 Sep 2005 12:08:47 AM |
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Totally Agree.
Canada's 'Government Controlled' offshore efforts do appear to be a major SNAFU at best. And
mostly due to lack of funding and Governmental cut backs on manpower. Although, Canada's less
than aggressive approach of "wait and see if we're needed" does give the appearance that our
efforts are "slow off of the mark".
But, I was referring to the average Canadian Joe or Jane stepping up to the plate as necessary
(in a local disaster). Not that Canadian's are any more or less willing to do what ever is
required then any other country. Its just that Canadian's seem to be a little bit faster at
recognizing the problem (and acting on it immediately) !!!
:-(]
"dreamwalker" wrote in message
"The Other Guy" wrote in message
Canadians are among the most analytical people in the world. And once a strategy has been
resolved, they are not afraid to ACT. Probably why the Rescue One team from Vancouver were
some of the first people on the scene in the Gulf Region. They just knew it was RIGHT.
To sum it up, Canadians just know how to get the job done. "Screw the Red Tape, that part
can
be sorted out later."
:-(]
Yep, just like a swiss watch, ROTFLMAO!....fucking idiot.
January 2005.
The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness commends the Canadian Government for
increasing its
financial commitment to the Tsunami relief effort. It's one of the larger contributions any
government has yet made.
But, we regret that these good intentions are being offset by growing public and media
perception
that, in one of the largest international disaster relief efforts ever, Canada's delayed
tactical
response suggests a lack of initiative and leadership. We're very concerned that public
confidence
in Canada's emergency and disaster response capabilities is dwindling.
The problem lies with the government's perceived inability to be proactive in deciding,
acting, and
communicating about what it is doing, particularly with respect to the deployment of
Canada's
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). Government spokesmen appear to have been trapped
in a
defensive position and don't seem to have planned how to communicate effectively in a major
international disaster. Had the Government's initiative and leadership been seen to be
proactive
from the beginning, this public relations problem wouldn't be distracting attention from the
real
issue. This delay has made Canadians, and the rest of the world, look at the DART deployment
as a
political decision rather than a humanitarian one.
DART, a major source of pride in the Canadian Forces, is suffering today from the very
problem which
resulted in its creation. Ten years ago, DART was conceived as a rapid response team for
major
international disasters. Why? Because Canada's relief efforts to a crisis in Rwanda arrived
too late
to thwart a cholera epidemic that brought tremendous suffering. The Canadian Forces website
boasts,
"The creation of the DART enhanced the federal government's ability to meet both domestic
and
international requests for aid, and it demonstrates Canada's resolve to support disaster
victims
anywhere in the world."
Yet, five days after the Tsunami struck eleven countries bordering the Indian Ocean and the
death
toll approaches 100,000, Canada's crack multi-disciplinary team of 200 specialists is still
on
Canadian soil. DART appears to be a vital Humanitarian Relief tool mired in political
procedural
stumbling. And the Canadian public is showing increasing frustration at the government's
perceived
lack of initiative and imagination in responding to a disaster that, in the words of UN
Secretary
General Koffi Annan, calls for an unprecedented effort from the international community.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors of this catastrophic event are at immediate risk from
hunger and
disease. We appeal to all Canadians to support the relief efforts by donating now to one of
the
agencies listed on our web site at www.ccep.ca
Adrian Gordon, Executive Director
Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness
.
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| User: "dreamwalker" |
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| Title: Re: Would We Handle It Any Better? |
13 Sep 2005 09:41:39 PM |
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"The Other Guy" <theotherguy@worldsbeyond.com> wrote in message
news:sDEVe.1869$6Z1.437533@news20.bellglobal.com...
Canadians are among the most analytical people in the world. And once a strategy has been
resolved, they are not afraid to ACT. Probably why the Rescue One team from Vancouver were
some of the first people on the scene in the Gulf Region. They just knew it was RIGHT.
To sum it up, Canadians just know how to get the job done. "Screw the Red Tape, that part can
be sorted out later."
:-(]
Yep, just like a swiss watch, ROTFLMAO!....fucking idiot.
January 2005.
The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness commends the Canadian Government for increasing its
financial commitment to the Tsunami relief effort. It's one of the larger contributions any
government has yet made.
But, we regret that these good intentions are being offset by growing public and media perception
that, in one of the largest international disaster relief efforts ever, Canada's delayed tactical
response suggests a lack of initiative and leadership. We're very concerned that public confidence
in Canada's emergency and disaster response capabilities is dwindling.
The problem lies with the government's perceived inability to be proactive in deciding, acting, and
communicating about what it is doing, particularly with respect to the deployment of Canada's
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). Government spokesmen appear to have been trapped in a
defensive position and don't seem to have planned how to communicate effectively in a major
international disaster. Had the Government's initiative and leadership been seen to be proactive
from the beginning, this public relations problem wouldn't be distracting attention from the real
issue. This delay has made Canadians, and the rest of the world, look at the DART deployment as a
political decision rather than a humanitarian one.
DART, a major source of pride in the Canadian Forces, is suffering today from the very problem which
resulted in its creation. Ten years ago, DART was conceived as a rapid response team for major
international disasters. Why? Because Canada's relief efforts to a crisis in Rwanda arrived too late
to thwart a cholera epidemic that brought tremendous suffering. The Canadian Forces website boasts,
"The creation of the DART enhanced the federal government's ability to meet both domestic and
international requests for aid, and it demonstrates Canada's resolve to support disaster victims
anywhere in the world."
Yet, five days after the Tsunami struck eleven countries bordering the Indian Ocean and the death
toll approaches 100,000, Canada's crack multi-disciplinary team of 200 specialists is still on
Canadian soil. DART appears to be a vital Humanitarian Relief tool mired in political procedural
stumbling. And the Canadian public is showing increasing frustration at the government's perceived
lack of initiative and imagination in responding to a disaster that, in the words of UN Secretary
General Koffi Annan, calls for an unprecedented effort from the international community.
Hundreds of thousands of survivors of this catastrophic event are at immediate risk from hunger and
disease. We appeal to all Canadians to support the relief efforts by donating now to one of the
agencies listed on our web site.
Adrian Gordon, Executive Director
Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness
.
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