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after a natural disaster hits...?

who helps? and how do they help? how does the department of housing and urban development help ? how? I NEED LINKS PLEASE.

Public Comments

1. FEMA is supposed to help...but we know it doesn't always work out that way.
2. What type of disaster? the response depends on what happened. the first few hours/days it is a local response, red cross, police, emts, local emergency management. Then if the local teams can't handle it the national guard comes in, FEMA comes in and many other agencies... www.redcross.org
3. The chain of command for major disasters goes like this: Mayor (local level) : It's the mayor's responsibility to assess the situation and act first, utilizing the police force, and other city agencies...Usually taking on the responsibilty of taking preventative measures...Levies should be reinforced (if applicable to the situation), cities evacuated (mandatorially), power stations shut down to avoid fires, electrocution, and more potential damage, etcetera...If no preventative measures are taken, then it would be the mayor's responsibility to act AFTER the fact, helping to evacuate people, securing the city, shutting down the power, etcetera. When the task is too much for the mayor to handle, the mayor then has to turn over the job to the... Governor (state level) : The governor, once contacted by the mayor, would then have the SAME responsibilities as the mayor (before or after the disaster, depending on when he/she was contacted by the mayor)...But, he would have much more power and assistance (state agencies) at his disposal to do a more effective job. If the governor cannot properly handle the situation...He then has to request help from the... President/Government (federal level) : The president is unable (by restriction of law, and the 'chain of command') to respond to a situation unless and until assistance is requested from the governor...His hands are tied, until a formal request is made. Once the President/Government's assistance IS requested, the president has EVERY agency at his disposal...Including the military and FEMA, among others. The ONLY thing that the President CAN do without a request, is declare an area a 'natural disaster area' which is necessary to achieve funding for, and acquire assistance (including the military, FEMA, etcetera) for the area. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps in rebuilding after the fact: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/owning.cfm I'm sorry that I don't have a link for the chain of command...This is just what I know.
4. My experience is to not accept any help --- Help always come's with strings attached as well as giving up your constitutional rights..... Smart folks clear out when a natural disaster is on the way.... Those with brains either leave or are properly prepared with resilient housing, food and firearms if they stay......