it's not just the US, but i quess most of the western world. I quess we are to safe to really prepare for disasters.

In The Netherlands, prepardness is even less. The govermant has started to promote prepardness, but with little succes. And we are not talking mayor prepardness.

The list of basic items by the Dutch goverment is:"
- A FM radio, with batteries
- Flashlight
- First Aid kit
- Matches in a waterproof containter.

On the addition items list:
- Prescription medicine
- cash, importent papers
- Spare keys
- maps / phonenumbers
- 3L water per person, per day
- 3 days worth of food
- hygiene stuff.

Really basic in all, yet i have yet to find somebody that actually has these things with prepardness in mind. And i don't just know a lot of normal people, i work in the emergency and safety business.