Miami - January 23, 2010
We all arrived from home states within a couple of hours of each other and got checked in to the hotel. It was advertised as an affordable boutique hotel in South Beach Miami. I now know that boutique means "pretty run down but trying to wage a come back". Our room keys are on a key ring with an 8 inch rubber alligator! Interesting start to this assignment!!
We had a strategy session over dinner. Jay had worked with this same organization at their headquarters in New York after 9-11, so gave us an overview of that deployment. Jay also has researched the history, culture, and political situation in Haiti and briefed us on that. I talked about the current earthquake from an emergency management perspective... aftershocks, damage, infrastructure, logistical problems of getting help to the people of Haiti. Dan talked about other business group deployments he’s been involved with and how he has worked with wildland firefights. Dan’s experience with wildland fire is similar in that it involves multiple deaths and a continuing uncertainty of more deaths to come or incomplete information.
We agreed during this strategy session that we can’t predict what kinds of service we can provide. We will need to do continuing assessment and adjustment. We meet with union leaders this morning to begin. We know we are working with staff and helping set up the Information Hub for members. We will keep you updated as this deployment evolves. A reminder that if you personally know of anyone who is impacted, reach out to them! And use this as a reminder to yourself to do your own disaster preparedness activities.
More later,
Mary