The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.
Every single administration in American political history has put cronies and pals and donors into political positions. But normally those people become the ambassador to Liechtenstein or the deputy undersecretary of commerce.
No organization should be allowed near disaster unless they are willing to cooperate with some level of established leadership.
From a population point of view, it's actually very important that as few people as possible get the flu. People getting the flu is not a private matter. The risk for healthy people is really about your friends and neighbors and fellow travelers.
There are several very good websites which describe the details of preparedness planning for citizens.
The best way to get a sense of what kinds of emergencies might present themselves in your community is by contacting local chapters of the American Red Cross or offices of emergency management in the region or state. Most large cities will have their own offices of emergency management.
Every school should have well-rehearsed emergency response protocols covering a variety of possible scenarios, from fire to armed intruders. Schools should have good lines of communications with local emergency response officials and practice those relationships in drills and special exercises.
Fallout shelters are like bell-bottoms. They've gone in and out of favor.
There's detailed information on how to assemble a nuclear weapon from parts. There's books about how to build a nuclear bomb.
Seven million ship cargo containers come into the United States every year. Five to seven percent only are inspected - five to seven percent.
Nuclear terrorism is possible - it may be probable - but is survivable.
President Obama was deeply and clearly affected by the Sandy Hook disaster.
When children are hungry, sleepy from a night spent fighting untreated asthma, or hobbled by symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses, they are less likely to do well in school.
Poverty leads to hardship and failure.
