Readers: When it counted, high-profile rescue team failed
Most National Post readers probably could not find Elliot Lake, Ont., on a map. Still, many are quite critical about how a rescue operation was conducted at a collapsed shopping mall in that city this week. Most of that anger was directed at the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) unit brought in from Toronto.
On Monday, two days after the initial collapse, a HUSAR spokesman seemed to suggest that the search for survivors was being called off due to dangerous conditions at the mall. Later, he stated that his words (“Nobody’s happy that we have to stop work”) had been misconstrued, and his unit had no intention of giving up. By that time, the damage had been done.
“This non-rescue of those poor souls of Elliot Lake will always be a case study of paid government workers failing those who do the paying,” wrote Karen Turner. “Come on Canada, these [HUSAR] people make way more money than we do, get better benefit packages and we won’t even mention the ridiculous early retirement they collect. A big fat F to all those government workers that just couldn’t do the jobs they are paid to do. Shame on every damn one of you that failed these poor people.”
“Who are these ‘officials’ who callously assigned victims in Elliott Lake to die because rescuing them might be ‘dangerous?’ ” asked Frank Hilliard. “Please publish their names and pictures so they can hear what the public thinks of their cruel, callous and inhuman decision.”
Other readers suggested that HUSAR’s relative inexperience in dealing with disaster was the problem in Elliot Lake.
“It’s surprising that a right-ofcentre paper does not grasp the problem with a civil servant rescue group, whose previous experience consists of one previous event in six years,” wrote Colin H. Campbell, a past president of the Engineering Institute of Canada. “What did they do the rest of the time? What was the cost of having them on stand by for six years? Instead, the government should organize a request for qualifications from reputable contractors/structural consultant teams. When a disaster occurs, select one and let them run with it. Firms in the private sector cannot exist unless they can perform, unlike the government.”
“HUSAR has been very happy to conduct safe training exercises and revel in its high profile status but has spectacularly failed in meeting its mandate when it actually counts,” added Nestor Stadnyk. “Why are we creating useless high-profile dream teams that fail and add to the waste of tax dollars, while we simultaneously under-utilize the real workers — firemen, police and EMR responders? A ‘Good Job Brownie’ [based on a George W. Bush phrase] award is well deserved.”
Some suggested the Canadian military should have been called in to co-ordinate the rescue.
“Years back, a friend of mine joined the Canadian military,” wrote Rory Gilfillan. “Being the product of a liberal arts education and mired in the mythology of soft power and Canadian compromise, my friends were taken aback and I asked him why he enlisted. His simple response: “Because we get s--t done.” As I reflect on the Elliot Lake/HUSAR disaster, I wonder what could have been accomplished had the Forces been immediately been called in.”
Other readers suggested that officials should have looked to other countries with experience in rescuing survivors from buildings damaged by explosions. One country, in particular, was singled out.
“Come on people, time is of the essence in rescue operations, and Israelis are skilled at digging people out of fallen buildings,” wrote Susan Blake.
“The Israeli disaster recovery unit has superior experience and equipment to support the current rescue mission,” added Isaac Glick. The unit would be available within less than 24 hours. I am taking the liberty to contact the Israeli Consulate on that matter.”
This reader drew parallels between Elliot Lake and New York City.
“No one has mentioned 9/11,” wrote Roy Engfield. “There, hundreds of police and firefighters, went into the face of the most obvious danger to their lives and attempted rescues that they considered it their business to carry out. No building has ever been in so much danger of collapsing onto rescuers’ heads as those two buildings, yet those people thought more of those in danger than of themselves.”
As noted previously in this column, the Diversions page in our Arts & Life section has a devoted following, with readers often suggesting ways it can be improved.
“The Diversions page daily devotes a portion of its space to horoscopes — a pseudoscience lacking any evidence to support the author’s daily predictions,” wrote John Macey. “I suggest that you invite Georgia Nicols [who writes our horoscopes] to present evidence that supports her predictions and create a dialogue for and against her position from your readers. In the event any space becomes available for new items, you might consider publishing all of Pepys’ Diary for all days of the week, or find space to add a few cartoons, like Doonesbury.”
We often get notes from readers praising our writers. Here’s one more.
“A line from reporter Tristin Hopper’s article [Canada’s Laws On Freedom Of Association’ Harsh,’ UN Says, June 22] jumped out at me,” wrote Matt Watson. “He wrote: ‘[Olivier] De Schutter said Canada should drop its “self righteous” attitude and own up to a severe food insecurity problem … [he] also blasted Canada’s “appallingly poor” record of taking UN human-rights bodies seriously.’
“Seth Myers could have read this line on Saturday Night Live’s weekend update and it would have gotten laughs,” Mr. Watson continued. “The fact Mr. De Schutter actually said it shows just how unhinged UN human rights bodies have become. Cheeky, entertaining writing is why I get the Post.
“Well done, Mr. Hopper.”