Never underestimate the government’s ability to screw things up, right?
I mean, we already know FEMA botched Hurricane Katrina.
But what you may not know is why…
What made them so incompetent in that situation – and do you have any reason to think they’ll be any better at handling a disaster that strikes near you?
Here are 5 things you absolutely NEED to know about what FEMA does in disasters – and, more importantly, what it doesn’t do…
1. FEMA’s Funds Aren’t Just For “Disasters” Anymore
FEMA used to be strictly for natural disaster relief and management – but like so much else, that all changed on September 11th.
FEMA now focuses primarily on terrorism, alongside Homeland Security.
Why? No one knows.
No one can explain why funds that should have been available for people in real danger during Hurricane Katrina were diverted to “fighting” terrorism.
FEMA has less money than ever before, because the government is covering how much it’s spending on Homeland Security by taking money from an agency that has nothing to do with terrorism.
Which means that agency doesn’t have the money to do its actual job.
2. FEMA Cuts Corners and Causes More Harm Than It Relieves
During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA put up trailers for people who had been displaced from their homes.
Sounds like a good thing, right?
That’s what you want your natural disaster relief organization to do.
Except the trailers had exceptionally high formaldehyde levels.
The Sierra Club warned FEMA about the problem, but they were ignored and FEMA continued to place displaced citizens in the trailers – which inflicted those people, who had already lost everything, with breathing trouble, constant headaches, and nosebleeds.
3. FEMA Won’t Help You Get Out of Harm’s Way
You probably heard on the news that a lot of people didn’t want to leave New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, even after they were told to evacuate.
That might have seemed downright stupid to you – why wouldn’t you get out if your life was in danger?
The answer?
A lot of them COULDN’T get out.
FEMA didn’t provide transportation or funds for those who didn’t have their own vehicles to evacuate in.
The vast majority of people stayed not because of stubbornness or stupidity, but because FEMA gave them no way out.
If you haven’t heard of Claude Davis yet do yourself a huge favor and WATCH THIS VIDEO. He’s going to be the talk of 2017.
One of the smartest guys I ever had the pleasure of meeting, Claude set-up a UNIQUE SYSTEM that changed his life forever.
I already tried it myself and let me tell… you I was completely blown away… His surprising tactics could make your life easier and give you the peace of mind you deserve.
4. FEMA Doesn’t Have the People It Needs Ready to Go
Ever been on a volunteer fire department or rescue team?
You get trained and you show up regularly to stay trained, so that whenever your services are needed, you know exactly what to do and how to help.
It’s how the National Guard works.
It’s how a lot of very effective forces that aren’t needed all the time work.
But it’s not how FEMA works.
FEMA doesn’t have people on standby.
They have to orchestrate a massive number of services, from search and rescue to waste disposal to food distribution to transport – and more – and the people they’re working with HAVE NOT BEEN TRAINED BEFOREHAND.
They’re mostly cobbled together from local agencies, each of which knows how to do one small piece of the required disaster relief plan – and none of which know how to do it in concert with a large number of other organizations.
Any way you look at it, it’s a logistics nightmare waiting to happen.
5. Even FEMA’s Survival Kit Advice Is DEADLY
If you go to FEMA’s website, they’ll tell you what you should have in your survival kit in case of disaster.
It’s ridiculously inadequate.
It will not help you survive a real disaster and in fact, it may even get you killed by giving you a sense of false confidence.
For example, they don’t even mention having a means of evacuating your family or your supplies.
The items they do tell you to have are sufficient for a disaster that lasts a day or two at most – not a full-scale catastrophe like Katrina.
Look, I can’t solve all the problems with FEMA.
But I CAN solve the problem of making sure you have your family’s survival plan and skills ready to go when they need you the most…
Every survivalist needs to know what to pack – and surprise… not a one of them is on FEMA’s worthless list of things to get.
Jeff Anderson, Modern Combat And Survival
Whom ever wrote this is a complete jackass. FEMA is vital to the rebuilding & recovery of all hazards and disasters including TERRORISM which in the 21st century is a big threat to our country!. I work for FEMA as a reservist (someone on call 365 days out of the year) and have been trained and receive new training at every opportunity. So please stop spreading lies to gullible people and get a life.
I checked out the Fema emergency list, and the first page, looked woefully inadequate, but the second page, actually had some items that could be fairly helpful. I think they are thinking of short term inconveniences rather than a Grid Down disaster. When I see a fairly good prep list, It looks to me to be just a variation of a backpacking list, that was tweaked some. Which makes me think that a backpacking list, is in reality not a bad starting point for a go bag.