(Scroll down to read part one)
Who would the command be manned by?
The upper echelon of the command would be made up of former military commanders, individuals who have experience conducting such large scale operations. There would be something of a military structure to the command and it's members would serve in a manner similar to military service. There would be a central Corp of full time servicemen on call at all times and ready to jump into action upon first notice of a disaster.
Other members could serve like the National Guard, with occassional short term periods of duty that allows them to have their own lives and careers but provides for a large force of people with the skills needed to provide disaster relief.
A third tier of volunteers who would be oncall to respond to situations like the Haiti quake . These people would be ready to report for duty in short notice. All the assignments would be predetermined, procedures and protocols for reporting for duty would be established and all equipment and materials they would need would already be in place and ready for transport with the volunteers. They would simply report to a preassigned location for transport to the disaster zone.
The service men and volunteers would come primarily from all the countries in the region. Superpower countries like the US, who would actually command the vessels, would contribute to the commands for all regions of the world.
The Command would have predetermined procedures for working with soveregn nations and their own coast guards, military forces and disaster responders who would already be on scene.
It would have in place protocol and procedures for working with international relief organizations like the International Red Cross.
For example, there would be a Western Atlantic Disaster Responce and Relief Command covering the entire Western Atlantic coast from Canada to the Southernmst tip of South America. There would be more localized commands covering areas such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Eastern US coast, the Carribean, and the Easter South American Coast. The main Navel componant could be based in the Carribean, a central location that would enable it to reach anyplace in the eastern Atlantic region on very short notice. This is also a disaster prone region which has experienced many Hurricanes and even volcano eruptions and now earthquakes.
Similar Commands could be established for other regions of the world so that fast response Commands will be in place all around the world.
Bases of operations could be established in regions that have been the been subjected to disaster. Participation in it's operations could provide temprary relief to people whose livelyhoods have been destroyed or disrupted by disaster.
For example, if the Command were temporarly stationed in Haiti, Haitians could be provided work at the station working in warehouses on the command support base and around the area. This would help to re-establish the economy and aid in the recovery of the region. Permanant bases could be established that would provide long term work and economic stabilty in the area.
All countries in the region would be welcome to participate, including countries that might not be on the best terms with the US, like Cuba and Venezuela. It would offer the oportunity for adversarial nations to work together towards a common humanitarian cause. The Command could serve as a rallying point for international cooperation and reconciliation between rivals.
The Command would be funded by all the Governments in the region except for those who are under severe financial contraints like Haiti, which could serve as a host nation. It would also be funded by humanitarian organizations and relief funds. Instead of having benefit concerts in response to disasters, the giant carrier could travel to different cities and host and support giant fund rasing events, like a concert on the deck. That would also bring the Command to the people of all nations so they could feel a sense of ownership of the effort.
This may sound all grandios, but it is entirely possible to accomplish if enough people rally together to make it happen. Then , when disasters strike like the Haiti earthquake, or the great zsunami, or a typoon in Bagaldesh, or a Hurricane Katrina, instead of the world scrambling to put together a response and tripping all over everyones feet, there could be a rapid and coordinated response that saves many many more lives and helps the regions recover much faster.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join me and the world can live as one." John Lennon
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