Appendix - Liaison with National Guard

The National Guard is a critical portion of relief operations. However, in any local disaster big enough to have National Guard involvement, the priorities are such that they are unlikely to be in Palo Alto in any noticeable number.

If they are present, the plan is that they would be part of the "Unified Command" involving police, fire, ...

Palo Alto's leaders think that this organizational arrangement handles the problems that have arisen elsewhere. My experience is that there will be problems at the lower level: where small units of the Guard come in contact with residents.

• Confusion over who is in charge:
  • Residents view Guard as there to help.
  • The Guard comes in with the sense that their role is to restore and maintain order. No information about who are resources (eg, neighborhood leaders and other prominent people).
• Clashing personalities
  • Residents will have gone through a lot before the Guard arrives and will feel that they have a level of ownership of the problem.
  • Residents - especially younger males - will be very territorial.
  • Guard's training as soldiers - basic doctrine is quick application of overwhelming force - is a poor match for dealing with residents in their expected psychological state.
  • Younger males in the Guard will be especially quick to try to establish dominance in situations, potentially escalating problems.

• Personal experience, Agnes flood (1972): by Doug Moran
• Personal observation, Television, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans (2005)