Preparation preempts panic

Mayor Nagin of New Orleans is again criticizing the slow Federal response to Hurricane Katrina last year. Amazingly, even after Katrina hit, many Americans didn't seem to learn the lesson of personal preparation. Several weeks later, after hurricane Wilma struck Florida, residents complained it took 3-4 days before relief supplies reached some of the hardest hit areas. Of all the states of the Union, Florida probably has the most experience with hurricanes...one would think a resident would know how to prepare to look after their own for the first 72 hours after a storm.

This attitude--reliance on others for even basic needs--puts the entire nation at risk. In the days after Katrina, several commentators asked aloud what the government's response indicated about its ability to meet an attack with a weapon of mass destruction. While much effort was expended to reassure the population that lessons were learned and procedures improved, that's not a lot upon which to base the safety of you and your family.

We're an interconnected society. Specialization provides us a high standard of living, but at the risk of massive disruption in basic services. When the system crashes, citizens need to know how to take care of themselves, at least for the short term.

It's not necessary to build a Cold War fallout shelter in your backyard to 'be prepared.' One merely needs to be ready to provide food, water and shelter in the aftermath of a disaster. Just a little money invested in canned goods (don't forget the can opener...), flashlights (get a dynamo powered one, or else lots of batteries) and a radio (ditto) can go a long way toward peace of mind. Know how and where to obtain safe drinking water, or store your own.

Plenty of web sites offer useful suggestions for such family preparations. The information is out there. There's no reason to leave yourself helpless in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. After the past two years, anyone who puts their faith solely in Uncle Sam and his cavalry is asking for trouble. Be responsible. Be prepared. Be free.