In praise of ordinary people
In the 10 years since terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11, the United States has greatly improved its preparedness for coping with disasters, a shift illustrated most recently by the smooth response to Hurricane Irene, according to authorities speaking at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) on Tuesday. Isaac Ashkenazi, director of the Urban Terrorism Preparedness Project at HSPH and the Harvard Kennedy School, said the U.S. government’s actions since 9/11 have borne fruit and the nation is much better prepared for a disaster than it was a decade ago. Ashkenazi cautioned, however, that as in emphasizing government preparedness, officials should not forget one of the country’s biggest strengths: the ability of ordinary people to help when disaster strikes. “This country is a superpower … because of the people. This country was established and developed bottom up by resilient individuals,” Ashkenazi said. “The real first...