In 2004 a day or two after the tsunami, one of my lib friends mocked GWB’s sending a Navy ship that could purify a zillion gallons of water a day, while other countries were pledging $X millions. I pointed out that following a situation like that, nothing is more needed nor precious than the water the ship would be able to process for drinking. Hard to spend $$$ in shops that have been flooded out.
And, I further noted that GWB said they would assess the situation and provide what was needed which no one could tell after the first day. But, you see, libs are born knowing everything!
Good for Bush for doing that.
That reminds me of a story I read after Cyclone Pam devastated much of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. A rich guy was in the area with his yacht and dropped anchor and ran his generators and de-salination water makers nonstop for days on end to pump fresh water ashore to local villages that had been destroyed.
Fresh water saves lives and also prevents a lot of diseases that would otherwise occur when desperate people are forced to drink bad water when no other options are available.