I kept asking myself, "What part of BE PREPARED TO BE ON YOUR OWN FOR THREE DAYS" did she not understand? She was asking for help and begging for the focus to come to her part of town. This is a massive nightmare for millions of people. It takes time to mobilize the help she is asking for. They have to do triage and make assessments of where to put the resources to work. That is the primary reason they tell you to prepare AHEAD of time to have food, water and fuel. (Fill your tank if you have a car because you probably won't be able to get it after the disaster.) Same with food and water.
It happens every time there is a disaster. People go on TV and cry and beg for help usually within a day or two of the event. In my experience this is the time when neighbors need to help neighbors. Food can be shared, especially if you have freezer full of food that is only going to spoil if you don't eat it. Tools and other supplies can be shared, too. It is a time for co-operation and patience and creativity. Electricity was not restored in my neighborhood after Hurricane Ivan for 8 days and we considered ourselves lucky to get it then. After Hurricane Frederick we went about the same amount of time without electricity. Without co-operation among neighbors and friends, it would have been intolerable. As it was, we got by, had enough to eat and drink and tried to maintain our sense of humor. It was hard but we did it.
The people of NJ and NY and CT can get through this, too. Hang on, help is on the way. In the meantime, help each other, share and stop expecting miracles. And the next time they tell you to be prepared to be on your own for three days or possibly more, listen to them and prepare. Because they are telling you the hard truth.
P.S. I understand the need for them to try to carry on as usual....by holding the marathon. But in light of what is happening all around them, I am not sure that holding it is the right thing to do.
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