Disaster plans

Re “Big gaps in quake help revealed,” Dec. 27

The gaps your article reveals come as no surprise. None of the plans that I know of make use of the expertise that may be in an area at the time of a disaster.

Off-duty or retired paramedics, doctors and nurses could report to centers nearest their homes and utilize pre-stored emergency equipment to treat and triage the injured. Civilian trucks and vans could transport victims to these centers or to the hospital after being cleared by the hospital for acceptance. Water and food could be stored at these locations, and the staff would attend organization meetings.

All this would require some expense and planning, but the alternative was hinted at in the Nov. 13 drill. Best to keep our heads buried in the sand.

Jeff Solomon

Los Angeles