The latest disaster commands a high profile, and thus is likely to command the full attention of the Bush administration, some disaster experts say.
But China still doesn't take part in United Nations command structures for disaster relief, preferring to operate under its own military command.
A FEW days after Rajiv Shah was sworn in as the head of the United States Agency for International Development, he stopped by to see its rapid response center, a high-tech command post for disaster relief, which on that day stood empty and still.
Despite weaknesses in preparations for disaster, failure to achieve unified incident command, and inadequate communications among responding agencies, all but approximately one hundred of the thousands of civilians who worked below the impact zone escaped, often with help from the emergency responders.
Cover image: A staffer watches for disaster alerts in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency command center in Honolulu, United States, on Nov. 30, 2017.
He added, "And not to have the stuff and not to have command, that's a recipe for disaster".
Japan has dispatched 107,000 of its 230,000 troops for disaster relief, and for the first time has established a joint command that coordinates the movements of its ground forces, marines and air force.
Former President Bill Clinton commanded the court at halftime, with a plea for disaster relief for Haiti.
According to a draft plan to be presented on Thursday to Tom Ridge, director of the Office of Homeland Security, the mayors are asking for money for command and control centers, disaster coordinators, protective gear and training.
