Why We Under-Prepare for Hazards

Upon many witnessing the immense destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, feelings of sympathy were coupled with those of puzzlement: how could so much carnage be caused by a hazard that was so predictable? In 2004 the region had the benefit of a full dress rehearsal for Katrina when Hurricane Ivan—another category 5 storm while in the Gulf—triggered full-scale evacuations of the same areas, revealing many of the same weaknesses of preparedness procedures that were observed during Katrina. In addition, just weeks before the storm planners in New Orleans engaged in a training exercise that simulated the impact of a hypothetical hurrican—Pam&mdash:that breached the levees of New Orleans, submerging 87% of the city. Finally, the warnings of impending catastrophe could not have been stronger or more accurate in the days and hours leading up to the storm's landfall. Substantial numbers of residents nevertheless failed to heed urgent warnings to leave, few organized efforts were made to assist those who lacked the means to do so, and governments failed to have sufficient resources in place to deal with the disaster when it was realized.