In the wake of lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, emergency responders from across Maryland and the nation are urging individual preparedness over “waiting for the cavalry” to avoid a repeat of the awful scenario in New Orleans.
At a severe weather conference Tuesday in Columbia, emergency responders said the storm season will be stronger and longer than last year. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, showed slides of the destruction from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, some of the pictures eliciting gasps. “I?m sure everyone is thinking the death and damage of last year?s hurricane season could never be repeated. I hope to convince you otherwise,” Mayfield said.
“Our waters are about 10 degrees warmer than they should be. We haven?t had a significant hurricane event since 1933,” said Michael O?Connell, president of the Maryland Emergency Management Association. Though Hurricane Isabel “made things very difficult for us,” he said, it doesn?t compare to the so-called Great Chesapeake Hurricane of 1933. Local officials say they are not waiting for the Federal Emergency Management Administration to respond to a crisis, and the message seems to be echoed by FEMA Director David Paulison.
“The biggest concern for Maryland, and for all over the East Coast, is complacency of the individual,” Paulison said. “Each person who doesn?t evacuate takes resources away from people who really need it.” If you?re not in an evacuation zone, he said, make sure you have enough of everything you need ? food, water, medications, a radio ? for three to four days.
This year, FEMA has deployed 13 response coordinators to the states most likely to bear the brunt of a hurricane, though they have only recently received their assignments and have a lot of work getting connected, local officials say. Also, the Maryland National Guard has had 50 percent of its members deployed to Iraq, and much of their equipment suffered wear and tear from the desert climate there. Paulison said they will be ready this time.
“It?s going to take several years to get FEMA where it needs to be, but we will be ready for this hurricane season.”
Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Baltimore/Washington region
Montgomery County: 1,907
Prince George?s County: 998
Baltimore County: 734
Baltimore City: 433
Howard County: 92
