A future look at privatized search & rescue operating in a disaster zone
Imagine the scene after 9-11, or even during more localized disasters, if our emergency government services were run exclusively by for profit companies like America’s private healthcare system. The image above lends a comical edge to the idea (Take a hard look at the smirking sling operator if you haven’t already), but it’s deadly serious. And in the home state of anti-government zealot Rick Perry, who is currently off campaigning and not taking care of business, a full blown emergency is exactly what may be developing.
There are wildfires ravaging central Texas as I write this, some mere miles away. It started yesterday, when Tropical Storm Lee dodged Texas but dragged in stout prairie winds that are now sweeping over the dry, baked landscape. A spark from a cigarette, a coal from a Labor Day barbecue, that’s all it took. Already this morning thousands have evacuated several towns and developments just a few miles east of Austin. Here’s a recap:
The fire subsequently spread to four other subdivisions, forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes. By 11pm Sunday, the fire had hopped the Colorado river in two places and was reported to measure 16 miles long by four miles wide (more than 14,000 acres), destroying 300 homes and causing partial road closures on Highways 21 and 71.
As of this morning local news outlets are reporting the fires are still uncontained and could grow. Emergency responders are battling the blazes left and right, county and city services are engaged. I’m on unofficial call to join any of my friends or family living in the Central Texas hill country to help them water down property or dig firebreaks should the flames move closer. Rain would sure help, but if the winds would just die down the fire department could probably get a handle on it quick. The one thing I’m not hearing from anyone around here this morning are rhetorical demands for “government to stay out of it”.
Update below, sent by a friend from Lake Travis near the Perdenales, also featured on Drudge he says:
I can see the smoke from the Bastrop fires right now. The Pflugerville fires were only a few miles away from me.
I’ve already e-mail the governor’s office.
I’m thinking of posting an open letter to him on my blog today.
Rick’s to busy trying to become a great leader to be a great leader.
Have you tried praying? I’m sure Rick Perry wouldn’t mind.
Or just wait for the Invisible Hand of the Free Market to put the fires out. The Invisible Hand is magic and can do anything.
I know what it is like. In California, fire season used to be in the fall when everything is dry and the Sana Ana winds pick up. These days it is all year around. If there isn’t a fire raging somewhere right now, there will be soon.
My in-laws live in Bastrop and were evacuated. :( I am concerned for them and their property. Wish I had a better view of what was going on down there.
You may think privatized emergency services unbelievable or amusing, but prior to the 1820’s, if your home caught fire the fire companies would race to see who could fight your fire – if you had a plate from an insurance company on the exterior wall of your home. They’d get paid by the insurance company for fighting the fire.
No plate, here’s a bucket. In fact, get your own, and hope you’ve got lots of friends.
After a number of blazing blocks-destroying conflagrations were permitted to spread while the fire companies broke into bare-knuckled brawling for the honour of extinguishing the small initial blaze, cities began to ban these private organizations and replace them with a city-wide cohesive force (either all-professional or largely volunteer with professional commanders) that wasn’t receiving income from insurance firms.
There is a romance of the early bucket brigades and the hand-hauled, hand-operated fire “engines”, but it really wasn’t as effective when paid for by insurance carriers.
Not trying to scare anyone, but I did just hear about a good friend of the family, retired IBM’er in Bastrop, their house was among those burned to the ground. Thankfully they weren’ in it. I also heard from neighbors that this thing moved as fast as any Arizona gulch fire ever seen.
Not trying to make light of the situation, but the river is spelled Pedernales. I know we pronounce it Perdenales, but we’re Texans, so we talk our own way.
I just watched one hour of local news, and these fires are incredible. One local official said Bastrop County looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. The smoke is unbelievable. Our state fire fighters are stretched as thin as can be, and state officials are asking the Army to let Fort Hood soldiers help fight the fires. Williamson County has banned smoking outside.
Not only did Tropical Storm Lee miss us, it sent high winds and low humidity this direction. Louisiana and Mississippi got 15 inches of rain. We got fires.
The fires are Rick Perry’s jobs plan. He’ll “reluctantly” accept a disaster declaration and federal funds. Another Texas “miracle” wrought by harming the people of Texas.
This is god’s message:
“To the rest of the USA: Elect Perry and Texas gets it!”
end snark.
I was raised in Brazos county, and dang, it does get dry there. Even in large, populated areas, everything turns brown by august, and fires have always been a concern.
My heart goes out to those affected, and I hope that they get the help they need, from wherever it will come.