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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community Comment

Disasters, could they happen here?

Good morning, Netizens...
(Picture attribution: (AP Photo/Color China Photo)

It is hardly “breaking news” this morning because practically every news source in the United States is suffering an overload of disasters, from the record-breaking earthquake in China, to the volcano that is still erupting in Chile to the incredible debacle in Myanmar. What probably should be news, but may not be mentioned at all, is that while both China and Myanmar are willing to accept emergency food and medical supplies, they will not let emergency personnel into their countries. That is utterly asinine.

As you can see from the picture, where a hospital has collapsed as a result of the earthquake, they could easily use all the personnel and heavy equipment they could get.

However, the situation in China this morning is truly a disaster of monumental proportions. At the present time, according to AP there are over 12,000 dead thus far, and they are still digging in the rubble looking for more bodies.

Can you imagine what would happen to the Hospitals on Spokane's South Hill if we had an earthquake of this magnitude? Can you envision both Sacred Heart and Deaconess collapsing and sliding down the face of the South Hill? Don't say it couldn't happen, because it could.

Do you think we would allow Chinese emergency earthquake specialists to enter our country in the face of such an emergency?

My guess is yes. What is your opinion?

Dave



Spokesman-Review readers blog about news and issues in Spokane written by Dave Laird.