Where is FEMA when China needs it?

NY Times:

Two weeks after a powerful earthquake devastated parts of southwest China, the government is struggling to deal with a crisis that has left up to five million people homeless.

Beijing is urgently appealing for international aid, including tents and other supplies to house, feed and clothe residents in an area that is roughly the size of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey combined.

Relief agencies say China’s needs are staggering, and officials worry that the international community may not have nearly enough tents to offer.

Over the weekend, China’s prime minister, Wen Jiabao, appealed for more assistance as he toured the area hit by the earthquake with Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general.

Last week, President Hu Jintao visited Chinese factories that make tents and temporary buildings, pressing them to step up production for the sake of the earthquake survivors, many of whom lost everything.

The appeals came as the death toll in the May 12 earthquake, the country’s worst natural disaster in more than three decades, was raised to 62,000 people, with more than 350,000 injured and about 23,000 still missing.

Concerns remain about severely damaged dams, chemical plants and other infrastructure, and there have been warnings that artificial lakes created by the earthquake could breach their banks and that crowding in refugee camps could spread disease.

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Note the Chinese are using tents for emergency shelter since they can't come to Texas like Katrina evacuees. Nor will they be getting trailers, with or without formaldehyde for those wishing to stay in the area. The good news is they are not blaming their situation on President Bush. I think that shows a level of maturity not found with many Democrats in the US.

If I needed a few million tents in a hurry I think China would be a good starting point. The disaster has opened China to itself and the outside world as never before. Even the wackos in Burma seem to have learned something from China's handling of this crisis.

BTW, the Chinese ideogram for crisis is made up of two characters the first meaning trouble and the second meaning opportunity. For now it appears the Chinese are making the best of their opportunities and with more possible troubles on the way, will come more opportunities.