Gee, nothing's changed:
The team of doctors, nurses and paramedics - a unique unit in the 107-team National Disaster Medical System - is supposed to be able to mobilize within hours, then fly into chaos and work through the crucial first few days after an attack to contain casualties.
But overspending has mired the system in debt, forcing the suspension of funding for such teams while Federal Emergency Management Agency supervisors scramble to sort out irregularities.
Team members say the problems threaten to compromise their work in a disaster by impeding maintenance of equipment, limiting paid training and increasing the time it takes to prepare to go.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4568955The article is quite long and goes into the team's attempt to obtain additional funding from hospitals (not allowed FEMA says), from state grants (could be a conflict of interest), etc. Equipment sits in warehouses going unmaintained.
If there is a disaster, I think it's the old, "You're on your own, pal".