i am ambiguous regarding private citizen rescues

[Amishman]

12. Numbers and geography

In a disaster, what is needed is skilled operators on the spot with the right equipment and experience. For water rescues in an urban setting that is shallow draft boats and operators who are used to dealing with tricky currents and submerged hazards. Civilian fisherman from the coastal backwaters fit this exactly.

The country is a big place and it's just not feasible to have trained personnel and specialty equipment across the country for every scenario ready with a day or two notice.

The numbers needed is huge. There are thousands of national guard deployed with trucks and heavy equipment, but on the news most of what we see are civilian volunteers. Why? Because there really are that many more people helping out of the goodness of their hearts.