Causes.com
| 11.19.18
Does FEMA Need to Make It Easier for People to Report They’re Safe?
Vote to see how others feel about this issue
What’s the story?
- Over the last few days, the number of people missing or unaccounted for in the deadly Camp Fire in northern California peaked at 1,300 before dropping to just under 1,000.
- Facebook has a “Crisis Response” feature where users can mark themselves safe during and after a crisis. Should the Federal Emergency Management Agency create something similar? Does FEMA need to make it easier for people to report they’re safe during emergencies?
Why are so many listed as missing?
- Communications problems. The Camp Fire destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, including power lines and cell phone towers. Investigators also need to compile missing person reports from calls, reports, and emails.
- Numerous shelters. Thousands of residents are spread out in temporary accommodations or shelters.
- Ongoing search. 500 specialists and 20 cadaver dogs are searching residences for evidence of human remains.
- Better to report than not. Sheriff Kory L. Honea of Butte County said the list includes many people who weren’t aware they were reported missing. “We are finding that there are a lot of people who don’t know that we are looking for them,” the sheriff said. “That is why we are publishing this list.”
- Elderly evacuees. A quarter of the residents of Paradise – at the center of the blaze – are aged 65 or older. “If they did make it out,” the BBC explains, “older residents may…be less likely to have access to the internet or other mobile communications to contact people they know.”
What do you think?
FEMA has emergency alerts, do they also need to create some kind of emergency network for survivors to report they’re safe? Is there more they could do to help facilitate the process? Should FEMA run a “Crisis Response” reporting site like Facebook? Take action above, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
(Photo Credit: @CALFIRE_ButteCo via Twitter)
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