Here is one of the better blog posts I have seen related to #FEMA and hurricane relief for #Helene. Chaos in a natural disaster is just what happens, and we (the colloquial "we") form a lot of misguided ideas about the omnipotence and abilities of government agencies (especially Federal agencies) to respond. Coordination without communication is very hard. Deployment without roads is very hard. There really isn't any way to prepare for watching all of your property be, literally, washed away before your eyes and being left with only what you're wearing and what you're carrying.
What if you're a conscientious prepper but all your supplies just disappeared into a raging torrent of water. All your water, MREs, medical supplies, radios, camping gear, vehicles, arms and ammo just washed away except what you could grab. Even if you have a bug-out location you can't get there now because you didn't leave in time.
Being forced from a comfortable, civilized life into an isolated survival scenario with no communication, transportation or supplies in a matter of hours is something very few of us can even comprehend, much less prepare for.
It really puts a focus on things we often say as slogans but never consider as realities we'll have to deal with: "You are your own First Responder." "No one is coming. You're on your own."
FEMA Refresher – Area Ocho
