Elliot Lake
Jun. 27th, 2012 09:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
siglinde99I have worked on a number of humanitarian emergencies where Canadian urban rescue teams have made a big deal about getting sent to rescue people trapped under fallen buildings. Every time, we have a huge public relations battle trying to explain why sending people half-way around the world into chaotic situations where they have no local contacts and don't speak the language is a BAD IDEA. By the time they get in and organized, the people they are trying to rescue will almost certainly be dead. The money and effort expended are almost certainly put to better use with local resources.
This weeks disaster at the shopping mall in Elliot Lake reinforces everything I believed about these teams. There may be a time and a place for them, but they certainly don't appear to have covered themselves in this former mining town. I hate reading about the rescue efforts, but can't stop. Maybe today, five days later, we will have a miracle.
This weeks disaster at the shopping mall in Elliot Lake reinforces everything I believed about these teams. There may be a time and a place for them, but they certainly don't appear to have covered themselves in this former mining town. I hate reading about the rescue efforts, but can't stop. Maybe today, five days later, we will have a miracle.
