What Would a good reaction to a Natural Disaster Look Like?
One thing that I’ve been thinking about recently is what a good response would look like for a large natural disaster. We’ve mostly been learning about terrible responses to disasters that prioritize the rich and leave the poor rebuilding without support for years after the disaster. As we’ve seen time and time again, government officials often make empty promises while doing nothing. To be sure, cleaning up after a disaster like a hurricane or a tornado is extremely difficult even in the best of circumstances. While there are many examples of terrible responses, it’s more difficult to find good ones. But what would that look like? What should officials strive for and citizens expect after a disaster? One example of a good response to a natural disaster was the tornado that hit Joplin, MO in 2011. This response was discussed in a 2017 Vox article. This tornado caused billions of dollars in destruction and destroyed or damaged 7,500 homes. While all natural ...