Do You Trust Government Agencies Like FEMA to Handle Natural Disasters Like This?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted 2011/03/11 20:00:00

Related Topics: Tsunami, Japan, Sunami, whirlpool, Quake, 8.9 Magnitude, Japan Earthquake, Tokyo, Tsunami in Hawaii, Hawaii, pacific region, Earthquake, 8.9 earthquake

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An aerial shot of homes caught in flames after being hit by a tsunami at Natori City in northern Japan.

An aerial shot of homes caught in flames after being hit by a tsunami at Natori City in northern Japan.
Vehicles crushed by a collapsed wall in Japan.
Streets and homes are flooded after an earthquake in Oarai City in Ibaragi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
At the Sendai Airport in northeastern Japan, cars and airplanes get lost in the debris that was swept by the tsunami.
A man walks past the rubble and a building engulfed in flames in Iwaki (Fukushima Prefecture).
Sendai Airport is flooded during a tsunami in Sendai, northeastern Japan. The tsunami was a consequence of the 8.9 earthquake that hit Japan.
Homes are swept by a tsunami smoulder near the airport in Japan. Reports say that the tsunami has risen to 33 feet along parts of the country's coast.
Vehicles being carried by a tsunami tidal wave at Hitachinaka City in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Do You Trust Government Agencies Like FEMA to Handle Natural Disasters Like This?

1,050 votes
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	Yes	215 votes	20%
	No	835 votes	80%

The 8.9 earthquake in Japan, followed by the consequential tsunami, has rattled many people in the region and beyond.

Looking through the jaw-dropping photos of the quake and tsunami, we can't help but wonder what would happen if such a devastating natural disaster were to happen in our own backyard.

Do you think government agencies like FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) can handle a natural disaster as bad as this?

Look through the photos to gain more insight. And if any SodaHeads in Japan have photos to share, please do. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

+51

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Judester 2011/03/12 12:19:26

No

+16
The floods last year in Iowa were far worst than the flooding in New Orleans after the hurricane but did you see it on TV? Was there any federal help? For some law the feds are unable to assist a state until the governor requests it. Yet Bush gets the blame. Here's some more thinkable facts. Ever notice when there is an evacuation and the video shows the highways bumper to bumper ON ONE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. Unbelievable! The pecking order is alive and thriving in government and it takes forever to get information moving threw the red tape. History will prove me correct on this, WTC event that proved the FBI, CIA, NSA and many other agencies would not share information, blaming each other about the terrorists. The flight school that the terrorist were attending notified the FBI about them only being interested in flying the aircraft and not take offs and landings. Some thing was very wrong here and ignored by the FBI. Back to the question asked. Here is my answer and look over this one a click at a time. http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/F...
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This is W³ 2012/01/30 11:12:07

Yes

Who else are we gonna trust...the Koch Brothers?!

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Narayan Debu 2011/06/03 09:23:20

No

it is the same (US) government who is causing these catastrophes using climate control weapons. How do you trust them to handel such situation. And even they do handle, it'sjust for an eye wash.

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PilarHernandez 2011/05/07 05:45:41

No

In this side of the Atlantic, governments are too inept to do much.

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2011/04/23 23:07:04

No

I regret to conclude how deplorable deficient and tragic FEMA's poor quality emergency responses have been and only hope it improves immediately for the future of America!!!

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Anna 2011/04/02 05:26:17

No

+1
I found this site by accident or maybe fate but I do think there is a reasin I found it. I am the Founder and President of Global Emergency Aid and Rescue. I have worked in every disaster for 18 years. I was in N.O. 6 hrs before Katrina hit and for 3 months after. It was a pure mess. My organization was created due to the lack of Government action. We do what has to be done no matter where it is or who it is. We currently have teams on the ground in Japan and will sending another team on Monday. Today I went to a local supply store to purchase more equipment for the response team. At the check out (as I was about to pay, money in hand) I asked if they would concider donating the items. I was told to get out. The items were yanked from the counter and screamed at. Seriously?! What has come to this world? Since the Japan disaster, we have recieved no donations our teams are finding the missions themselves. That being said. Rest assured...if a disaster does happen here in the US, we will be there and will not leave you until the job is done. For more information www.gearinternational.org

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disclaimer 2011/03/25 04:32:38

No

It was clear the government didn't have its ass in the right place after the BP disaster. I live in California. What if the earthquake of the century strikes? How can I expect the government to be able to respond properly if they can't even handle an oil spill?

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Dramarama 2011/03/23 04:45:08

No

I was in a tornado in the poorest neighborhood in Indianapolis and FEMA did a horrible job of handling things

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seatac 2011/03/22 11:22:06

No

HELL NO...The only thing US govt is able to do is war. They can start a war but they don’t care about innocent people dying or young soldiers. Govt would love to blame someone on Katrina, so they can just go war. war...war...war....it’s crazy
Why are we helping Libya? It’s supposed to be revolution war...How can someone understand the meaning of democracy if someone else is doing the work for you?

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shorty..956 2011/03/21 20:26:25

Yes

omg! im freakn scared of what happend on japan it could probably happend over here at us

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Princess 2011/03/21 19:15:34

No

The goverment is never ready for anything, so I don't expect them to be ready for natural disaster.

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hobo 2011/03/21 15:05:53

No

Government is incapable of "handling" natural disasters. The best the government can do is help after the fact.

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Jim Haynes 2011/03/20 16:55:02

No

After Katrina I wouldn't ask the government for a band aid and tough it out on my own gumption.

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hasher 2011/03/19 11:37:42

Yes

i know a lot of people would say no but the reasoni said yes was because fema cant act in disasters until the local govt. ask to be declared a natural disaster then they have to ask the fed govt. to step in. thats why fema didnt act immediately after katrina. they local and state govt deal with it first. and look what a failure the mayor of new orleans was. he should be blamed for most of what went wrong not the fed govt. he could have gotten his people out on busses days before the hurricane hit. would have been a lot less lives lost.

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Stuart 2011/03/18 21:45:31

No

They haven't been able to handle any problem whether it is financial, national security, or natural disasters. They are a big hole sucking up the money and giving back some claiming to be helping people. If we took all the money we give to FEMA and donate it to the Red Cross and other groups like them, problems would be solved in a faster and cheaper manner.

Most of the programs created by the government are inefficient, impotent and worthless to solve the problem. Private sector business and humanitarian groups are generally the best way to go.

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John Prizina 2011/03/18 18:43:27

No

Maybe a few years ago but not with the economy on the ropes & a leaderless administration in charge!

reply
udagawa 2011/03/18 10:26:08

Yes

takako uehara!
anpanman!

reply
martin28 2011/03/18 02:50:59

No

Government agencies aren't all powerfulso to put your trust in them is foolish. I trust in G-D alone and the ability he has given me to help myself.

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zombie 2011/03/18 01:02:42

Yes

if I don´t trust them.. who I´M gonna trust.

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the spoiler 2011/03/17 20:41:06

No

The U S Government maybe not, the government of my state HELL NO !!!!!!!! I live in TX>

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Ron to the spo... 2011/03/18 19:23:34

Oh I don't know Texas ain't half bad if you don't count the Valley border.

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kAREN SHORT 2011/03/17 20:07:27

No

Not this administration anyway. The only thing Obama does well is party and vacation, both on our dollar

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the spo... to kAREN S... 2011/03/23 14:00:16

Is this something new ??????

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DiJohnny 2011/03/17 19:22:57

No

The best quote I've ever heard on the subject was, "Oh my word, if you're depending on FEMA when the next natural disaster hits, you're probably going to die!"

There's nothing any government can do to prevent natural disasters, all they can do is pick up the pieces afterwards, and many times, they're not even effective at that! My hope is in Jesus Christ, not the government

"For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

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junktex 2011/03/17 18:10:53

No

+2
Our government is a disaster.

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Ron to junktex 2011/03/18 19:25:12

+1
You can say that again and again and again and again ad nasium

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Michael Hertel 2011/03/17 10:18:50

No

+1
If or perhaps when we are hit with another major disaster I do not think the government will be able to handle it well. If I get the money I will try to build a disaster resistant home for myself and stock it well so that in the event of a disaster I could help out my neighbors.

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beachbum 2011/03/17 01:09:16

No

+2
No way. After Ike, FEMA told a woman that her house was habitable - there was nothing but a slab. Another person was turned down about something, and when she investigated, a bureacrat told her they found the problem - someone had checked a wrong box - instead of immediately helping her, they told her to re-apply. Crazy. FEMA is just another federal bureaucracy that does nothing but drag their feet.

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Ron to beachbum 2011/03/18 19:27:14

+2
Typical government employees! Set on your ass until something happens than it's too late!

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beachbum to Ron 2011/03/18 19:28:42

And even then, they don't do an efficent job.

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John Wayne 2011/03/16 22:21:00

No

No, but who else is going to do it?

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Ron to John Wayne 2011/03/18 19:28:50

Have you ever heard of helping your self? That's who you can rely on, Yourself. Get off your duff and start by cleaning up and seeing what you can salvage. Then work from there!

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ANDY 2011/03/16 20:45:36

Yes

ONLY the American government which is the World's 911......

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junktex to ANDY 2011/03/17 18:12:36

+1
American government is the world's biggest problem.

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the spo... to junktex 2011/03/17 20:45:11

And its been that way for a long long long time

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Ron to ANDY 2011/03/18 19:29:48

And who has screwed up every 911 they have received.

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Rage 2011/03/16 19:41:18

No

+1
The US government is grossly under-prepared for a disaster like the one in Japan. Hell, we're still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina and that was in what 2005? What about the May 3rd tornado in Oklahoma City? There are people STILL WAITING for the government to help them with a house and medical bills. What if something worse than a tsunami or a hurricane happened? What if we had a nuclear meltdown here in the US? We have no plans in place we have no radiation proofed bunkers or buildings that we can go to until the threat is over. The US government seriously needs to quit worrying about what's put on tv or who's kid got pregnant and how they're going to deal with that and pull there heads out of there asses and realize they have the lives of an entire nation in their hands and they need to step up and start taking responsibility for that!!!

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Ron to Rage 2011/03/18 19:35:39

Thats one of the problems with Americans. They wait around for someone to do the work for them. Especially down south. I think that most states should not wait for the fed government to tell them what to do. Get off their socialistic ass and start preparing for themselves. The feds are a long way from being ready for anything except blowing a lot of hot air.

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Rage to Ron 2011/03/23 08:13:04
Zany 2011/03/16 06:33:27

No

+1
After watching what happened with Katrina I sleep with my 357, rubber raft, bottled water, cell phone and lunch bag filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches under my pillow. Our government is only good at helping other countries with our money. Look how long those people stood on that bridge in New Orleans waiting for our government! :(

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Cora 2011/03/16 03:43:35

No

+1
I don't trust them, every time there is a disaster there is alway's a problem with the government "Hierarchy." They all blame each other when something goes wrong. No one will take the responsibility of their own mistakes. Be man or woman enough to admit to their own wrong doing. The government as been given too much slack. The government works for us not the other way around. So this is where I stand with the "LOSER" of a government.

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