Today’s challenging question: what’s the right disaster recovery coordinating structure in an arena that stretches across multiple counties and jurisdictions?
I think as disasters grow in their destructive impact, it becomes increasingly hard to create any sort of balance between local input and/versus state and federal level involvement. The first stage is so necessarily focused on replacing massive infrastructure damage. So much depends upon those systems getting up and running … individuals and community can end up sidelined for so long that all sense of what is special and essential to them gets lost.
There is nothing elegant at all about this initial stage of upheaval. Communities and individuals often feel “bulldozed” by those that come in to restore infrastructure. People brokenhearted and grieving must stand by as others determine which of the places important to them are restored and with what urgency and priority.
Also – I cannot emphasize how dangerous complacency is. We are all guilty of it. Not taking vulnerabilities seriously. Ignoring warnings. Failure to prepare. But I don’t believe in berating people for being flawed human beings.
Almost everyone in Central Texas being raked over the coals for failing to react to weather reports and warnings had multiple jobs and responsibilities, worked off of past experiences (which are not predictive) and had no sense of the cumulative exacerbating conditions.
It’s always easier to blame those in the arena over examining our collective reluctance to invest in preparation efforts. Our deepest reluctance is to acknowledge that no matter what we do, all hell can break loose at any moment. It’s in the terms and conditions. Small print of life. Beyond our control.
The most essential element of leadership is the ability to raise the level of constructive action while lowering the fear response. I don’t want to scare you into action, I want to encourage you. But, also be there for you when all we can do, won’t be enough.
Love,
Angela
