ARNOLD URGES DISASTER PLANNING.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer Saying Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. was a wake-up call, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] said the state - and everyone involved in emergency response - should review their preparedness pre·par·ed·ness n. The state of being prepared, especially military readiness for combat. Noun 1. preparedness - the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action); "putting them plans. ``We live in a state that has had its share of disasters,'' Schwarzenegger said at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or . ``Last year we had fires. We have had earthquakes and we know there will be more disasters in the future. We have to prepare.'' The governor said he also is concerned about the levees that are built around California and is reviewing what it would cost - and where funds could come from - to ensure that breaks like those that happened in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded do not occur here. ``We have many old levees that need restoration or rebuilding,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``We have to figure what needs to be done to repair or rebuild them, what it would cost and where would we get the money.'' Still, overall, Schwarzenegger and Henry Renteria, head of the state's Office of Emergency Services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' , said they are confident California's plans will serve residents well in an emergency. ``Unfortunately, we have had our experiences with disasters,'' Renteria said, adding that he and other emergency officials from around the nation are looking at the responses in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to see what can be learned. While there has been widespread criticism of the federal and state responses to Hurricane Katrina, Schwarzenegger said he believed some of the expectations were unrealistic. ``Every time you have a disaster, people complain that the response wasn't quick enough,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``It takes time to respond.'' Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com |
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