Seriously, has anyone bothered to read the preceding post, or was it simply too detailed or too truthful? Let's recap:
Disasters and emergencies are filled with unknowns. Regardless of how much any particular agency, FEMA included, practices their scenarios and plans, there will invariably exist conditions which occur that are not covered by the plans. Does this mean that FEMA is ill-prepared or wants people to die? Let's look at another agency that faces the same problem: EMS. When responding to medical or trauma emergencies, nearly none of them are textbook. Regardless of the years of experience, countless hours of drills and training, and years of schooling that a paramedic has, they will rarely encounter any two patients that are either identical or "textbook". Because of this invariable problem of unknowns, patients do sometimes die, despite the best efforts of the paramedic. And it happens often. Does this mean that paramedics want people to die? NO. I am speaking from experience as I was a paramedic for several years. Poop happens.
Variables and Unknowns. It is these conditions that make an emergency an emergency. If all of the factors were known and there existed no variables or unknowns, then there would be no emergency since any agency could simply follow the playbook and everything would be fine. Cause-effect. Problem-solution. 1+1=2. I challenge you to show me how Katrina or Colorado is so cut and dry. Show me that there are no variables or unknowns. It's simple math: the more unknowns you have, the more difficult the equation is to solve. Emergencies are the same way. FEMA, EMS, ARES, RACES, MARS, Fire Departments, National Guard, and every other involved agency understands the same fact. That is why they devote time to attending planning, exercises, and drills, so they are not unknowns. They know exactly what their role is, who they report to, and how things are to be accomplished. In this way they become part of an integrated team that is working together in roles that don't have to be carved out at the last minute. Everyone has a job and they know exactly what that job is. They also know how their job will affect the jobs of the other players. Paramedics and fire fighters know that they will need assistance from private construction companies (those that have attended the exercises) to clear heavy debris and remove hazards so they can safely reach the patients. And these construction company heavy equipment operators know that they will be making it possible to get to victims. They've even practiced working in tandem so that the job can be done safely even when both the equipment and paramedics are in the same place at the same time.
I'm not against private organizations wanting to help with disaster and emergency situations, in fact I'm all for it. The UAV's would have been a highly valuable asset in Colorado. First of all they would have allowed FEMA to keep some or even most of the rescue helicopters staged on the ground, which would have saved fuel and also presented less of a risk to the lives of the pilots and crews. The UAV's could have also been used to assess the areas into which the helicopters would have to fly, pointing out hazards and even determining which helicopter would be best suited to that environment. These are just a few of the benefits that the UAV's could offer, but only if they are an integrated part of the plan. Having Falcon work side by side with FEMA BEFORE an incident gives the UAV pilots experience in what FEMA will be looking to know. It would also give FEMA experience with the capabilities of the UAV's and the pilots.
Why is this so hard to see? The airspace had already been restricted yet Falcon chose to say "who gives a rip" and fly anyway, and everyone here wants to say that FEMA is evil and wants to watch people die? Falcon blatantly ignored a no-fly order and made no prior efforts to offer their services during the planning and training that takes place before an emergency; does this sound like a team-playing organization? Everyone wants to say that FEMA is operating for their own secret people-killing agenda, but nobody wants to recognize that Falcon was trying to operate "lone wolf" by their own personal agenda? It seems to me that if FEMA wanted people to die there's much better ways to accomplish this besides committing huge amounts of time and effort to saving lives: like not showing up at all.
I hope that someone from Falcon reads this because I offer this challenge: If you are serious about wanting to offer your equipment, pilots, and services free of charge to public service, then begin coordinating with FEMA. Present them your offer. Have your execs, pilots, engineers, and other personnel undergo training in Incident Command and National Response Framework. Attend meetings, planning sessions, exercises, and drills. By doing this then FEMA will certainly be able to utilize your capabilities in future disasters, as a part of a coordinated team-effort to save lives.
And to the folks here who repeatedly keep saying that FEMA wants people to die, I say back it up with something concrete. Show us, in documented form, where FEMA says that they want, prefer, or need a body count. Otherwise such claims begin to border on defamation of character and slander.
I can assure you, however, that this isn't the case. The entire purpose of FEMA is to help in times of disaster and to save lives. And just like paramedics, they can't save every single person. Some will die despite their best efforts. But it is NOT because they wanted it to happen.
I think enough is enough, and enough groundless and factless bashing has occurred. The government isn't some evil beast that kills its own people for its amusement. But if you think it is, then perhaps you'd prefer the friendlier climate in North Korea, Syria, China, the Middle East, or somewhere else like this that goes above and beyond to cherish the life of every single one of their dear citizens.
It truly amazes me how fervently some people will argue a point while being completely oblivious to what it is they are arguing. Perhaps some enlightenment is in order for this dark path...
First of all, regardless of who it was, be it FEMA or the FAA, they were in all rights to lock down the airspace. Here is why. Emergencies and disasters are already a breeding ground for unknowns, and as anyone who understands basic math can tell you, you can't solve anything with unknowns. For Falcon to just show up and want to start putting their technology in the air becomes an unknown.
Disaster response is not something that just happens. Organizations such as FEMA and associated organizations practice and drill year-round for these events. They run tabletop scenarios, have resource assignment and mapping, and put those paper plans into play in real-world exercises. So when Falcon comes along and starts putting their birds in the air, these devices do not fit in with the practiced plans. Pilots don't know that they are there, and in the rigors of trying to fly in rain and wind the UAV's are difficult to see. It's asking for the UAV to become rotor mince.
Falcon was shut down because of that one fact: they were an unknown that could potentially complicate a situation already filled with enough unknowns. I understand that Falcon only wanted to help and I applaud this, but I also question this as being their motive. If Falcon truly had an interest in humanitarian uses for their devices, why were they not offering their technology to FEMA for Free before such emergencies occurred? Why was Falcon not at the last tabletop exercise, or at the last drill? Why did Falcon not devote time and resources to training and preparation just like everyone else did?
It seems more to me that Falcon saw a press opportunity. They saw the chance to stamp their UAV ads with "The UAV that worked the Colorado Floods..." and went for it. PR, plain and simple. The way to tell if I am wrong or not is if Falcon does indeed start contributing time and resources to tabletop exercises and real-world drills. If they are willing to go through the whole process for "free" then perhaps they are sincere. I guess we'll see...
And frankly all of this governmental bashing and personal bashing in here, is any of it, even one person, based on either experience or training in emergency management? Does anyone else here truly see why Falcon can't just drop in at the last minute and be a planned asset? It's the same reason that ham radio operators can't expect to do it either. Hams have to train regularly and attend exercises in order to be ready to serve. Moreover their role within an emergency is already clearly defined and therefore ceases to be yet another "unknown". Finally, they truly do serve for "free", as federal law prohibits them from accepting any sort of financial recompense for their service. And even though they can't get paid and likely won't get more than a two or three word mention in any press coverage, they continue to train and attend training year-round. Where is Falcon?
Perhaps if people were to take time to look at this from an objective point of view rather than their own narrowly-biased viewpoints they would see the obvious. It's simple math: you have to eliminate unknowns to solve the equation.
Oh, and to Anonymous Coward: FEMA wants civilians to die? Can you please provide some hard documented evidence of this? And if you truly feel that the federal government wants you to kill over and become a statistic, I recommend choosing another landmass where FEMA isn't involved...
And before you even ask, I am not a FEMA or government employee of any kind... I'm just a regular joe. A regular joe that happens to have emergency management training and a shred of common sense...
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by xanthaos.
Isn't enough enough?
Seriously, has anyone bothered to read the preceding post, or was it simply too detailed or too truthful? Let's recap:
Disasters and emergencies are filled with unknowns. Regardless of how much any particular agency, FEMA included, practices their scenarios and plans, there will invariably exist conditions which occur that are not covered by the plans. Does this mean that FEMA is ill-prepared or wants people to die? Let's look at another agency that faces the same problem: EMS. When responding to medical or trauma emergencies, nearly none of them are textbook. Regardless of the years of experience, countless hours of drills and training, and years of schooling that a paramedic has, they will rarely encounter any two patients that are either identical or "textbook". Because of this invariable problem of unknowns, patients do sometimes die, despite the best efforts of the paramedic. And it happens often. Does this mean that paramedics want people to die? NO. I am speaking from experience as I was a paramedic for several years. Poop happens.
Variables and Unknowns. It is these conditions that make an emergency an emergency. If all of the factors were known and there existed no variables or unknowns, then there would be no emergency since any agency could simply follow the playbook and everything would be fine. Cause-effect. Problem-solution. 1+1=2. I challenge you to show me how Katrina or Colorado is so cut and dry. Show me that there are no variables or unknowns. It's simple math: the more unknowns you have, the more difficult the equation is to solve. Emergencies are the same way. FEMA, EMS, ARES, RACES, MARS, Fire Departments, National Guard, and every other involved agency understands the same fact. That is why they devote time to attending planning, exercises, and drills, so they are not unknowns. They know exactly what their role is, who they report to, and how things are to be accomplished. In this way they become part of an integrated team that is working together in roles that don't have to be carved out at the last minute. Everyone has a job and they know exactly what that job is. They also know how their job will affect the jobs of the other players. Paramedics and fire fighters know that they will need assistance from private construction companies (those that have attended the exercises) to clear heavy debris and remove hazards so they can safely reach the patients. And these construction company heavy equipment operators know that they will be making it possible to get to victims. They've even practiced working in tandem so that the job can be done safely even when both the equipment and paramedics are in the same place at the same time.
I'm not against private organizations wanting to help with disaster and emergency situations, in fact I'm all for it. The UAV's would have been a highly valuable asset in Colorado. First of all they would have allowed FEMA to keep some or even most of the rescue helicopters staged on the ground, which would have saved fuel and also presented less of a risk to the lives of the pilots and crews. The UAV's could have also been used to assess the areas into which the helicopters would have to fly, pointing out hazards and even determining which helicopter would be best suited to that environment. These are just a few of the benefits that the UAV's could offer, but only if they are an integrated part of the plan. Having Falcon work side by side with FEMA BEFORE an incident gives the UAV pilots experience in what FEMA will be looking to know. It would also give FEMA experience with the capabilities of the UAV's and the pilots.
Why is this so hard to see? The airspace had already been restricted yet Falcon chose to say "who gives a rip" and fly anyway, and everyone here wants to say that FEMA is evil and wants to watch people die? Falcon blatantly ignored a no-fly order and made no prior efforts to offer their services during the planning and training that takes place before an emergency; does this sound like a team-playing organization? Everyone wants to say that FEMA is operating for their own secret people-killing agenda, but nobody wants to recognize that Falcon was trying to operate "lone wolf" by their own personal agenda? It seems to me that if FEMA wanted people to die there's much better ways to accomplish this besides committing huge amounts of time and effort to saving lives: like not showing up at all.
I hope that someone from Falcon reads this because I offer this challenge: If you are serious about wanting to offer your equipment, pilots, and services free of charge to public service, then begin coordinating with FEMA. Present them your offer. Have your execs, pilots, engineers, and other personnel undergo training in Incident Command and National Response Framework. Attend meetings, planning sessions, exercises, and drills. By doing this then FEMA will certainly be able to utilize your capabilities in future disasters, as a part of a coordinated team-effort to save lives.
And to the folks here who repeatedly keep saying that FEMA wants people to die, I say back it up with something concrete. Show us, in documented form, where FEMA says that they want, prefer, or need a body count. Otherwise such claims begin to border on defamation of character and slander.
I can assure you, however, that this isn't the case. The entire purpose of FEMA is to help in times of disaster and to save lives. And just like paramedics, they can't save every single person. Some will die despite their best efforts. But it is NOT because they wanted it to happen.
I think enough is enough, and enough groundless and factless bashing has occurred. The government isn't some evil beast that kills its own people for its amusement. But if you think it is, then perhaps you'd prefer the friendlier climate in North Korea, Syria, China, the Middle East, or somewhere else like this that goes above and beyond to cherish the life of every single one of their dear citizens.
Like I said, enough is enough...
Oblivious
It truly amazes me how fervently some people will argue a point while being completely oblivious to what it is they are arguing. Perhaps some enlightenment is in order for this dark path...
First of all, regardless of who it was, be it FEMA or the FAA, they were in all rights to lock down the airspace. Here is why. Emergencies and disasters are already a breeding ground for unknowns, and as anyone who understands basic math can tell you, you can't solve anything with unknowns. For Falcon to just show up and want to start putting their technology in the air becomes an unknown.
Disaster response is not something that just happens. Organizations such as FEMA and associated organizations practice and drill year-round for these events. They run tabletop scenarios, have resource assignment and mapping, and put those paper plans into play in real-world exercises. So when Falcon comes along and starts putting their birds in the air, these devices do not fit in with the practiced plans. Pilots don't know that they are there, and in the rigors of trying to fly in rain and wind the UAV's are difficult to see. It's asking for the UAV to become rotor mince.
Falcon was shut down because of that one fact: they were an unknown that could potentially complicate a situation already filled with enough unknowns. I understand that Falcon only wanted to help and I applaud this, but I also question this as being their motive. If Falcon truly had an interest in humanitarian uses for their devices, why were they not offering their technology to FEMA for Free before such emergencies occurred? Why was Falcon not at the last tabletop exercise, or at the last drill? Why did Falcon not devote time and resources to training and preparation just like everyone else did?
It seems more to me that Falcon saw a press opportunity. They saw the chance to stamp their UAV ads with "The UAV that worked the Colorado Floods..." and went for it. PR, plain and simple. The way to tell if I am wrong or not is if Falcon does indeed start contributing time and resources to tabletop exercises and real-world drills. If they are willing to go through the whole process for "free" then perhaps they are sincere. I guess we'll see...
And frankly all of this governmental bashing and personal bashing in here, is any of it, even one person, based on either experience or training in emergency management? Does anyone else here truly see why Falcon can't just drop in at the last minute and be a planned asset? It's the same reason that ham radio operators can't expect to do it either. Hams have to train regularly and attend exercises in order to be ready to serve. Moreover their role within an emergency is already clearly defined and therefore ceases to be yet another "unknown". Finally, they truly do serve for "free", as federal law prohibits them from accepting any sort of financial recompense for their service. And even though they can't get paid and likely won't get more than a two or three word mention in any press coverage, they continue to train and attend training year-round. Where is Falcon?
Perhaps if people were to take time to look at this from an objective point of view rather than their own narrowly-biased viewpoints they would see the obvious. It's simple math: you have to eliminate unknowns to solve the equation.
Oh, and to Anonymous Coward: FEMA wants civilians to die? Can you please provide some hard documented evidence of this? And if you truly feel that the federal government wants you to kill over and become a statistic, I recommend choosing another landmass where FEMA isn't involved...
And before you even ask, I am not a FEMA or government employee of any kind... I'm just a regular joe. A regular joe that happens to have emergency management training and a shred of common sense...