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Lesson's from Katrina

The horrible coincidence of meteorological event, city placement, and poor planning are making Katrina looks like it will be the worse disaster is U.S. history (the prior two choices were the Galveston disaster of 1900 for sheer monetary damage and September 11th for loss of life in a single incident.) It may also bring about a U.S. and worldwide recession.

Some things I learned from this.

1. We need to plan better before emergencies. If there had been an adequate plan in place to deal with this catastrophe, or if we had more effectively evacuated New Orleans before hand, a lot of this tragedy could have been averted.
2. We need to take simulations of what could go horribly wrong more seriously, and spend money preventively just in case. If we'd spent a billion dollars evacuating New Orleans with buses, there may have been criticism if the levees hadn't broken. But just imagine all the lives which would have been saved.
3. Reporters are quite human. I am very heartened to see so many so pissed about this tragedy. This website has some great footage.
4. I feel like a tool for not going down to help out. I gave some money though, and you should too.
5. Maybe we shouldn't build cites below sea level.
6. It takes about three days for a city to devolve into chaos after a tragedy when there is no-one in charge.
7. I want our government to do a better job of keeping us safe, happy, healthy and alive.