I worked for a County OEM for about 3 years a few years ago, post 9-11. We were perhaps one of the best equipped and trained such office in the Midwest, perhaps in the nation. I participatd in all phases of planning and response for everything from table top to full scale exercises.
So I can say with some authority that if anyone thinks the EMA types at ANY level have any inkling of how to deal with a scenario like this they are crazy. The people manning the State, county, and municipal comm centers will vanish like a cool breeze in less than a week. Its not that they are cowards, tho some may be. It’s just that they aren’t trained to deal with widespread civil disorder and violence.
Your local EMA spends 90% of their time planning for and dealing with weather events simply because that’s what most disasters in America are caused by. Once the lead starts flying these people are going to go home to try and protect their families and property.
As happened with the New Orleans PD during Katrina. I would think that non-police bureaucrats would cut and run even faster.
The thing that made me a gun owner was watching the "Rodney King" LA Riots on TV, and seeing how the LAPD turned and ran rather than confronting the rioters.
I strongly recommend viewing that Rodney King documentary video that was linked in the original article. (part 2/5) It shows the fear, confusion and mis-communications in the early part of the riot, when the police departed from Florence and Normandie, leaving it to the mob. It is a case-study in how these situations will be mishandled. It is totally worth 20 minutes of your time. Really, watch it, carefully.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRgaRtTURdY&feature=youtu.be
Bingo !
Agree ... Stay safe !