While I agree with the sentiment, there are far too many people who don't "see the light" until it's too late. I don't want my tax money distributed to idiots who don't care when they've been told what to do, but if it means fewer lives lost, I suppose some politicians will jump to spend my money. To bad they don't spend more wisely and save even more lives.

One other thing, it's not unreasonable to expect state and federal governments (or provincial, county, etc. for those not in the States) to have a plan to "flip a switch" to get everything back to normal. There's a LOT that can be done to get things back to at least survivable conditions. Waterproof buried electrical cable, backup grid components that can be activated to bring on power, emergency-use-only fuel pipelines to critical infrastructure and shelters, mobile electrical generation trailers, prophylactic building codes and construction standards, stocking and equiping emergency shelters and hospitals (food, meds, water, light, sanitation), encouraging more volunteerism for emergency preparedness and first aid, mobile deployment of water filtration/sanitation facilities, the list goes on (but will be ignored by most governments)....

All of these things cost some money, but they are multiple use and really sensible. Why is it unreasonable to expect some of the profits the utilities take to go back into their infrastructure and emergency preparedness plans? Why shouldn't people who can't make it out not have "something" they can fall back on should their own preparations be destroyed or inadequate for the time they need? Government is supposed to take care of infrastructure and make sure corporations who take their profits from said infrastructure put back into it for the good of all.

I ask you this: What if YOU were in the hospital on a ventilator after an accident, expecting a full recovery, and a hurricane/ND hits the hospital? Maybe they have enough diesel to run their generators for a week and plenty of O2. Don't you think it's reasonable for you, the patient, to expect that the government have plans to refuel that hospital (and any others stricken) within an agreed upon time period? Even if the hospital stretches with 2 weeks of diesel (very unlikely), and they only keep critical equipment active, if there are no plans or capabilities to get fuel, that person who would/should have lived won't stand a chance after that timeperiod.

We are woefully unprepared as a society. But along with our own personal and family preparedness, we need to encourage local and federal politicians to spend our money in smart ways. The sad truth is that much disaster could be avoided and we could get back on our feet pretty quickly - power is a large part of this. Insurance companies should also be the ones we encourage since they have the money and a PAC to get some of this done.

I'm hoping I don't have to rely on the government, but I find it sort of silly to say people are idiots if they find themselves having to do so. You simply never know when you find yourself, your family or your friend being that idiot, so why not make sure the government makes at least minimal preparations? It doesn't mean YOU have to stop being prepared and give over your safety to the state!