But another -- ANY other -- administration would have seen it's responsibility to respond. They would have issued the DPA orders to get supplies manufactured and delivered. They would have gotten them to hotspots without calling governors "snakes" and they wouldn't have doled them out based on who is a political ally. They would have distributed them directly and not through for-profit third parties. They would not have allowed the situation where individual desperate governors were out bidding one another. They would have come to the assistance of an aircraft carrier with sick sailors forced to be in close proximity instead of firing the captain of the ship who appealed for help. They would have alerted the population to safe practices and not told them it would "magically" go away in 2 weeks exacerbating the attitude that it was nothing.
This administration is responsible for the callous and neglectful responses they've broadcast.
Each state has an Emergency Management/Preparedness stockpile system in place, which each state's governor is suppose to be responsible for. It has come to light, that for whatever reason, while some of the governors have done good, other governors have not been tending their own state's preparedness systems very well. Each state is to have a "stockpile" of various things to help for natural disasters, pandemics, nuclear attack (dirty bombs), and chemical warfare. This includes water, MRE's, and some medications too. While first responders, hospitals, etc., are to have their own equipment, gear, and supplies, in an extraordinary event scenario, where these resources would be stretched too thin, and/or the residents would be needing additional resources, the governor is to have the state emergency system, step in with the extra supplies needed.
The federal stockpile, while much larger, oftentimes steps in, and provides additional resources for states during time of need. The federal stockpile was never meant to provide everything needed, for all 50 states, at one time.
We are NOT under martial law on a federal level. The stay-at-home request is exactly that. The state-of-emergency is being overseen by the CDC, and FEMA. The governors, of each state, were informed that they would take charge over their own states. Many immediately declared a state-of-emergency, giving the governors emergency powers, and capabilities, which vary from state to state, and adopted recommendations by the CDC, and FEMA. It also gives them the power to send their own state's emergency resources when, and where needed. While most governors have cooperated, and done a very good job under difficult circumstances, there have been a few exceptions. Those are the ones we tend to hear about in the media. Michigan comes to mind. The governor of Michigan declined to comply, wishing to be independent. That was her right, but by refusing to comply with the federal state-of-emergency, and CDC recommendations it disqualified her from the federal FEMA supplies.
DPA orders were issued. Lots of corporations, factories, and companies have converted to manufacturing much needed supplies. Distilleries are making hand sanitizer, and isopropyl alcohol for the hospitals. Car manufacturers, and other companies are producing respirators, and shipping them to various hospitals all over the country, as well as making parts for them. Masks are being made. (This is why 3M is currently in trouble). Due to the DPA orders, when Michigan's hospitals, and eventually the governor, began trying to order equipment, and supplies as private consumers, the suppliers were unable to comply. There are limited supplies, so FEMA decides how many, or how much is to be allocated to each state, based on population, and immediate needs. When the governor of Michigan discovered that independent, individual consumers could not buy the supplies, she decided to comply, but not without a big fuss. It has nothing to do with political affiliation, and she's since been sent supplies. There is no bidding war. All the supplies are paid for by the federal government, and sent as needed, and/or available. NY, on the other hand, was sent plenty of supplies, but they "misplaced" some of them. They've been found.
The issue regarding supplies going to the highest bidder, did not involve governors, but an issue with 3M sending the much needed face masks, to the highest bidder in other countries. We have one 3M manufacturer here in the US. 3M claimed that being an international company, owned by China, they had to get permission from China about making masks for the US, despite the DPA order. China said no. The masks they manufactured, were to be sent to Canada, and Latin American countries. That has since been taken care of, which is why Trueau was making threats to America, if we stopped the 3M here, from sending supplies to them. They have two 3M factories in Canada, and should be able to get their needed supplies, from them.
As to the ship's captain, issues about him following the correct chain of command were cited, as well as leaking the information to the media, after he got the help he requested. Our military has some pretty strict protocols, and many of them are in place for good reasons. Failure to follow protocol, is a very serious offense.
Our population has been alerted to safe practices, and we have never been told it would "magically" go away. As with most viruses, they run their course, and goes away. It is expected to peak, in the majority of the population, over the next 2 - 3 weeks. It won't disappear after that, but the number of people that catch it simultaneously, will be greatly reduced, thus more manageable.
