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Tom Ridge, Boy Scout

4 comments on Tom Ridge, Boy Scout

groundzero.gifTom Ridge, Boy Scout
: As if Tom’s appearance on Today (below) wasn’t dumb enough, just go to his new ready.gov website to see advice that is either so neon obvious it’s insulting or so ludicrous it’s funny or so explicit it’s scary:

: This is my friend Janice’s favorite: If you’re in a moving vehicle, and “there is an explosion or other factor that makes it difficult to control the vehicle, pull over, stop the car and set the parking brake. ” If you can’t control the vehicle, how the hell can you do all that? By the way, if you’re in San Francisco in a moving vehicle in an explosion, make sure to pull over, stop, set the parking brake, turn your wheels to the curb, and ask yourself whether you’re still against war now!

: If there’s a nuclear blast, you should find a fallout shelter. Good luck! They’re all just basements again. And: “Consider keeping potassium iodide in your emergency kit, learn what the appropriate doses are for each of your family members. Plan to speak with your health care provider in advance about what makes sense for your family.” Oh, yeah, my health insurance will cover that conversation.

: Trapped in debris? “If possible, use a whistle to signal rescuers.” Right. I think I have one right here. Next to my plastic sheeting and duct tape.

choke.gif: Plan for your pet: “Pets should not be left behind, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency.” Any suggestions? If you don’t leave them behind and you don’t leave them outside and you can’t take them to a shelter … uh … stuff them? Eat them?

The bottom line: We are not prepared.

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4 responses to “Tom Ridge, Boy Scout”

  1. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    Yeah, this really made me shake my head.

  2. Howard Sherman Avatar
    Howard Sherman

    Given that the only way I was able to communicate with my family on 9/11 was by Blackberry and AIM, it also surprised me that e-mail, the Web and wireless text messaging were hardly mentioned on http://www.ready.gov. Tech Central Station has a good article about how “smart mobs” might be the most effective form of communication during another attack.

  3. Scott Chaffin Avatar
    Scott Chaffin

    Well, your whistle is right there in your supply list, which you certainly read and understood, right? Honestly, what’s the complaint? Mine is with the severe tardiness of this basic information, not the information itself. The information therein is a good start, and it’s laid out pretty damn well.
    You almost sound like you expect ready.gov to have a personalized MyReady.gov site, prepared just for you. Of course, you’re gonna have to modify it to fit your family’s requirements. Is that so hard, or unthinkable? Do you honestly see nothing worthwhile in this?

  4. Gail Rampke Avatar
    Gail Rampke

    Ever since discovering the usefullness of whistles while wilderness traveling, I have never been without one in my wallet. They make quite small yet piercing ones these days. You can blow a whistle for *days*; for as long as you can breathe, in fact. Your voice gives out in minutes/hours. It also takes far more muscular effort to produce vocal volume; especially difficult if you are injured or your chest is constricted in any way.
    And I can do a hell of a lot with plastic wrap and duct tape: distill water, make bandages and slings, cook food, etc., etc. In every scenario I’ve read about, some people will die outright, some will be critically injured, and a great number will be in a ‘savable with help/survival equipment to sustain them until they are rescued’ situation.