My wife was the Assistant to the Director of Disaster Services in Tampa Bay for years and we both have volunteered since then. Around here they mostly do a great job, maybe because they have a very good stream of dedicated volunteers, especially from the military community, MacDill Air Base being in Tampa.
Anytime we are threatened with a flood or hurricane, they mobilize quickly and in force. But they are not built to accept food and such. Instead they have agreements in place with food suppliers, department stores and motels/hotels.
If you could go on a “fire call” or “flood response” with the Red Cross around here, you would see how well the system works. It’s designed to get the help the people need in the shortest time frame.
I’m sure many Red Cross areas around the country aren’t run as well, but Tampa Bay Red Cross is good at what they do.
Dear maxis,
As a first hand Katrina survivor, at the very Baton Rouge ‘shelter’ next to the Mississippi River that they are using now, I can tell you, they had their heads in their alimentary canal!