In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and for as many years as we can remember, we’ve had a hard time comprehending why our response to emergencies seems so slow in this country. 

Certainly we have the equipment, manpower and know-how to provide critical assistance, but why does it take so long to get to the victims?

We understand that restoring power can be a long process, with roads often inaccessible and poles and wires needing to be put back in place, but what has never made sense to us is the long delay in providing food, water, blankets, clothing and other essentials which are needed immediately. 

We may be a bit naïve, but can’t helicopters drop supplies from a safe height, above dangerous wires and poles, to areas not accessible by any type of vehicle? 

Despite a week’s advance notice that Hurricane Sandy promised to hit the East Coast, and several days’ warning that it appeared to be headed for New Jersey and New York, we found it disheartening that the federal agencies weren’t ready to step in and assist. 

State officials were on the alert, shelters were set up and response teams put in place, (or so it seemed) but in disasters of tremendous proportions, such as Sandy, local officials need the help of the federal government. 

We have military bases within a reasonable distance of almost every state in the country which logically could, and should, be central distribution centers for emergency supplies when needed.

In one disaster after another, we’ve watched, read and listened to victims who have been days with no food or safe drinking water, no heat and no power. Some of these lost services understandably take time, but we find no excuse for what seems to us to be a needless delay in reaching them with the things which are possible. 

To us, helicopter drops have always seemed like the most viable method of reaching victims who may be shut off from the world because of inaccessible roads, not able to get to a shelter. 

In the case of a hurricane, once the wind has died down, helicopters should be able to take to the air with emergency supplies. We can’t imagine having to go for days, a week, or longer with no dry, warm blankets or clothes, no drinking water, food or essential medical supplies.

Every time we have a disaster in this country, not just hurricanes, we find the response time slow and it never seems to get any better. Certainly in a country that volunteers to help others all over the world whenever there is a dire need, we can find a way to stockpile emergency supplies and be ready at a moment’s notice to respond right here at home. 

It’s kind of frightening to wonder how long it might take us to respond if we were attacked by one of our enemies.