What the individual must learn from Katrina.

Do you have a family disaster plan, one that is appropriate to the kinds of disasters most likely to befall your area?

We don’t—yet.  But we will, before winter falls on Minnesota this year.

And one thing is certain:  No part of it will depend on actions, or even on suggestions, by local, state, and federal government.

There will be no algorithm that says, "Do such and such if the mayor orders an evacuation," or "Do this and that if the governor orders a state of emergency."

There will be no part of it that assumes that anyone, anyone at all, will come to our rescue. 

We rely on the government (any level of government) to save us only at our own peril.