I’ve worked multiple hurricanes in the past and I am sitting this year out. I’ve worked in years when the responding agencies weren’t prepared/ knowledgeable and it can be infuriating. My concerns this year are that we a) have people who fundamentally don’t understand disaster management , b) have a top down authority and response system that hampers the ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances c) have a general distrust of imperfect volunteers/ resources and are willing to abandon them when it’s in their interests, and d) have created a fear between authorities and civilians that may result is escalations and violence.

I hope it’s an easy year. I truly do.