A Couple of our Members are in this Disaster Area...

At least two members of FFN are in the middle of the disaster in Manila, Philipines. Michael Vito is one, the other one I know of is a less active member. This article is the first I knew of what was happening in Manila:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/28/2698995.htm

Not checking the news for three days didn't help me know that Mike was in the middle of this mess. He lives in the eastern half of Manila.

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Permalink Reply by Jason McDonald on October 5, 2009 at 3:10am

Its a very good thing the second storm did not directly hit us. I was worried for a few days that we would take another direct hit. I am happy that the storm is over but now the flooding needs to come down.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on October 7, 2009 at 9:58pm

A few days after flood. It's been a relief of a total of 7 inches of flood level have recede in our area. Yesterday, a convoy of U.S. marines trucks of 5 tonners, 3 humvees have passed by downtown Pasig City going eastward to the flood zone. So that's what I've read the papers on that morning that two U.S. navy ships are docked in Manila bay to go into action for humanitarian missions. A relief we really appreciate, that goes from the around the world who have wholeheartedly donated for the plight of our people here.

Still, a lot of work to be done other than cleaning up the mess. And thinking what we can do about it to minimize the impact of this tragic event. I've chatted with other guys in this forum. Surprisingly we have a low mortality rate despite the magnitude of this disaster.

I've read in the papers, that our government is proposing do dissolve of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, into National Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinating Council??? hmmm. I think changing to title does not changes anything. Unless, to somewhat like FEMA. But for me personally, Its high time now to push into EMS Law. So that in that concept, we have a unified command system, a structure and so on. So that during emergency like that. I don't have to have a dispatched written in a small note pad, relying on google earth or twitter to get someone rescued.... a real dispatch system that is. More importantly, a pool of rescuers, firefighters who are certified EMT or Paramedics that can do efficiently and professionally.

Those are my thoughts.....