Award-Winning Academic Researcher & Practitioner | Author & Keynote Speaker | Healthcare & Public Health Consultant | LinkedIn Top Voice
Why can the infrastructure not do better in helping with natural hazards, especially with recent cases of Mississippi and Florida? Yesterday colleagues and I within a FEMA Higher Education group discussed the ongoing efforts - incredible work being done by first responders and community leaders - even student leaders who stepped up to serve their communities in a time of need. A lot shared in our meeting is public information and squarely focus on what The New York Times reported today.?Over 100 people have been killed in Florida?by?Hurricane Ian. Recovery will be hardest on people already struggling prior to the natural hazard, plus a juxtaposition of a system intently designed to warn them early but coming up short. Even with all the technology developed in early warning systems, the gap between engaging communities and technology results continues to widen, especially, as I found in my book about the UK floods, long-lasting memories of past warnings and trust can override the current information and decision-making at the local level. I'd love to hear your thoughts - especially about the recent NYT article in the comments below. #emergencymanagement #healthcare #technology https://lnkd.in/gJeQcTjK
Angel Martinez
2 年
As a Floridian, I feel for these people. I have people i know that live in Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. They are regular, middle-class decent people and And they need help But to answer your question: Why can the infrastructure not do better in helping with natural hazards? Maybe we shouldn't be building in areas close to the sea. Ft Myers and Cape Coral were infilled and they are right at sea level. People need to understand the consequences of living in these places. and developers should not be allowed to build in these places.
Bryan Marks
2 年
I live in St. Petersburg where Ian was originally headed. I live in a concrete block home with a tile roof, impact windows and shutters. I am not in a flood zone and chose this house and location because I wanted the best chance to survive a hurricane with the least amount of damage. One of the biggest problems with FL and every state that can be hit by hurricanes, are all the mobile homes and old wood frame homes that are near the ocean. Even if housing costs weren't exceptionally high, these structures should never have been built where they were. I am heartbroken for the loss of life, but also know that humans could do a lot better in where and what they build.
Storyteller. Social Responsibility. Survivor.
2 年It’s a privilege to evaluate, live in a place with concrete walls and stricter building codes, have a car, a family without medical needs, have the means and money to pack up and leave.? Shelters? Can they accommodate my elderly husband who needs care, or my child with intellectual disabilities. Are they safe? How am I going to get there? I don’t have transportation.? Those that stay even after the disaster and there isn’t a roof on their house, say the same thing. I don’t have anywhere to go. This is all I have.? These are conversations I’ve had with many people in following disasters. *There are different reasons for not evacuating, living in areas that are prone to disasters. And I've had those conversations too.