[SoothingDave]

I'm always amazed at the number of so-called "conservatives" who instinctively expect The State to take care of every aspect of our lives in difficult times like this.

Do you expect everyone to fend for themselves, or for organizations like the Salvation Army to literally have an army with all of the necessary equipment to rescue and care for those flooded out?

Some things the state does because it is the logical actor. Large scale disaster logistics are one of them.

SD

[Alberta's Child]

We're talking about two different things here. Rescue operations and disaster relief are certainly important functions, but nothing a government can do is more effective than what people can do for themselves. In this case, I'm talking specifically about advance warnings and informing people about the dangers they face.

You can call me cruel if you'd like, but as far as I'm concerned someone who refuses to evacuate a disaster area and then climbs on a roof expecting to be picked up by a helicopter is not a "victim" in any sense of the word -- he/she is a public menace who is putting other lives at risk through their own ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, etc.